Alternate name: Northern Oriole

Family: Icteridae, Blackbirds and Orioles view all from this family

Description 7 1/2-8 1/4" (19-21 cm). Male has black head, mantle, throat, and central breast area; bright lemon-yellow underparts, rump, and outer tail feathers. Wings, central tail feathers, and wide terminal band are also black. Male has 1 slender white wing bar. Female lime-yellow with dusky streaks on back; 2 wing bars. First-year male resembles female, but with small, faint black throat and bib.

Habitat Breeds in the pinyon-juniper woodlands of semidesert areas; in yucca trees or palms in deserts; or in sycamores or cottonwoods in canyons.

Nesting 3-5 bluish-white, irregularly spotted eggs in a grassy hanging pouch nest, often skillfully hidden among dry yucca fronds, pines, or live oaks.

Range Breeds in southern California, southern Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas. Winters mainly south of U.S.-Mexico border.

Voice   The song, a series of rising and falling flute-like notes, resembles that of a Western Meadowlark. Call is a harsh chuck.

Discussion Besides gleaning insects, this fine songster feeds on available fruits, including those of cacti, and has been observed taking nectar--a habit practiced by many tropical orioles. Like most orioles, it skillfully climbs drooping branches and twigs as well as delicate yucca flowers.