A black and chestnut male orchard oriole on a branch. — Photo: Dan Pancamo, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Orchard Oriole

Icterus spurius

The smallest North American blackbird relative, a chestnut-and-black oriole that weaves hanging nests in shade trees.

Checking teacher reviews…

Teacher? Sign in to review this page →Report a mistake

About the Orchard Oriole

Orchard orioles are 6 to 7 inches long and weigh about 1 ounce, smaller than Baltimore orioles. Males are black with deep chestnut bellies and shoulders; females are olive green and yellow. They live in semi-open areas with trees, including farms, gardens, yards and parks near water. In summer they eat insects like crickets, caterpillars and beetles; before migrating they eat lots of fruit and nectar.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Icterus spurius^[1]
Size: 6 to 7 inches long; 10-inch wingspan.^[1]
Weight: About 1 ounce.^[1]
Lifespan: The oldest known lived 11 years.^[1]
Diet: Insects in summer; fruit and nectar before migrating and in winter.^[1]
Habitat: Semi-open areas with trees, such as farms, gardens, yards and parks.^[1]
Group life: Migrates in large flocks; loosely territorial when nesting.^[1]
Babies: 4 to 6 pale blue, speckled eggs.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2025).^[2]

Fun facts

Orchard orioles migrate at night in flocks.^[1]
They rarely fly above the treetops.^[1]
Young males don't get their colorful feathers until they are about two years old.^[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. “Orchard oriole.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/orchard-oriole (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Icterus spurius (Orchard Oriole).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/103793298/138345225 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

More Songbirds

Bali MynahLeucopsar rothschildiA critically endangered white songbird with a bright blue face mask, found in the wild only on part of the Indonesian island of Bali.Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaA bright orange-and-black songbird that weaves a hanging pouch nest; a baseball team is named after it.Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta variaA zebra-striped warbler that creeps along tree trunks like a nuthatch; its song sounds like a squeaky wheel.Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensA yellow-faced warbler of northern forests that sings a buzzy 'zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee' from the treetops.Blue GrosbeakPasserina caeruleaA deep-blue songbird with a big bill and rusty wing bars, found in thickets across the southern United States.Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianusA small, loud, cinnamon-colored backyard bird whose song sounds like 'teakettle-teakettle-teakettle.'Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumA sleek, masked, fruit-loving bird with waxy red wing tips that wanders in flocks to find berries.Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasA small marsh warbler whose males wear a black 'bandit' mask and sing 'witchety-witchety-witchety.'Crested OropendolaPsarocolius decumanusA black-and-yellow South American bird that weaves long hanging nests, with males that bow upside down to court females.Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarumA small, hard-to-spot grassland sparrow whose buzzy song sounds like an insect.Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisA sleek gray backyard songbird, cousin of the mockingbird, named for its cat-like 'meow' call.Green JayCyanocorax yncasA bright green, yellow, blue and black jay from southern Texas to South America that uses sticks as tools to dig out insects.Indigo BuntingPasserina cyaneaA small, brilliant-blue songbird of fields and roadsides that migrates at night by the stars.Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaA yellow-and-black warbler named after a magnolia tree, though it actually prefers spruce and fir forests.Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosA gray songbird famous for copying the songs of other birds and even frogs and dogs; a male may learn about 200 songs.OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaA small forest warbler that walks on the ground and builds a domed nest shaped like an old-fashioned oven.Painted BuntingPasserina cirisOne of North America's most colorful birds: males are blue, red and green, called 'nonpareil,' or 'without equal.'Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumA brown-and-yellow warbler that bobs its tail as it hunts on the ground and nests in northern bogs.Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceusA green woodland songbird with ruby-red eyes that holds a record for singing more than 22,000 songs in 10 hours.

Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusOne of North America's most common birds; males flash red shoulder patches and boldly defend their marsh territories.Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusA black-and-white songbird whose males wear a bright rose-red patch on the chest; a cousin of the cardinal.Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaA brilliant red-and-black songbird that hides high in the forest canopy; its song sounds like a robin with a sore throat.Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaA streaky brown sparrow heard across North America, with songs that vary from place to place.Superb StarlingLamprotornis superbusA small, shiny blue-green and orange East African starling that lives in family flocks where helpers raise chicks.Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusA robin-shaped forest thrush with a flute-like, upward-spiraling song; nicknamed the 'mosquito thrush.'Taveta Golden WeaverPloceus castaneicepsA bright yellow East African weaver whose males weave fancy grass nests to impress females.Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaA tiny greenish warbler that only passes through Tennessee; it nests in Canada's boreal forest.Turquoise TanagerTangara mexicanaA small, shiny blue-and-black tanager from South American forests that lives in tight family flocks.White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollisA striped-crowned sparrow whose song sounds like 'Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada.'Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelinaA spotted forest thrush with one of the most beautiful songs of any animal; the official bird of Washington, D.C.Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virensA big, bright-yellow songbird that hides in thickets, sings jumbled songs and holds food with its feet.Yellow-Rumped CaciqueCacicus celaA black-and-yellow South American bird that weaves hanging nests in colonies, often next to wasp nests for protection.Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataNorth America's most abundant warbler, nicknamed 'butter-butt' for the bright yellow patch above its tail.