A bright orange and black Baltimore oriole perched on a branch. — Photo: TonyCastro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

A bright orange-and-black songbird that weaves a hanging pouch nest; a baseball team is named after it.

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About the Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore orioles are about 6.5 to 8 inches long. Males are bright orange with a black head and back; females are less bold. They live in open woods, orchards, parks and yards and range from central Canada south to Colombia and Venezuela, depending on the season. In summer they eat mostly insects, and in spring and fall they eat nectar and ripe fruit to build fat for migration.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Icterus galbula^[1]
Size: About 6.5 to 8 inches long.^[1]
Lifespan: Up to 11 years in the wild; 14 in human care.^[1]
Diet: Insects in summer; nectar and ripe fruit in spring and fall.^[1]
Habitat: Open woodlands, orchards, parks and yards.^[1]
Where it lives: From central Canada to northern Colombia and Venezuela, depending on the season.^[1]
Group life: Migrates in flocks; pairs when breeding.^[1]
Babies: 3 to 7 eggs, incubated for 11 to 14 days.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2018).^[2]

Fun facts

Baltimore orioles are named for the colors of Lord Baltimore's coat of arms.^[1]
A Major League Baseball team is named after this bird.^[1]
Their nests hang like bags from tree branches.^[1]

Vocabulary

songbird: A perching bird that can sing; songbirds make up about half of all bird species.
migrate: To travel from one region to another with the seasons.
nectar: A sweet liquid made by flowers.
clutch: A group of eggs laid at one time.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Bird HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Baltimore oriole.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/baltimore-oriole (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Icterus galbula (Baltimore Oriole).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22724126/132026652 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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