There are a few bird species that have striking black and orange plumage. When trying to identify a black and orange bird, consider the pattern and distribution of the colors, as well as the bird’s size, shape, behavior, and geographic location.
Birds With Black and Orange Plumage
Here are some of the most common birds that are black and orange:
- Baltimore Oriole
- Scarlet Tanager
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Yellow-headed Blackbird
- Bobolink
Let’s take a closer look at each of these species to better understand their identification.
Baltimore Oriole
The Baltimore Oriole is a medium-sized songbird, measuring around 7-8 inches in length. Males have deep, vivid orange plumage on their underparts, rump, and shoulders. Their wings, back, and tail are black. Females are paler orange overall, with grayish wings.
Baltimore Orioles are found throughout eastern North America in spring and summer. Their range centers around the Great Lakes and the Northeast, though they winter in the southeastern U.S., Central America, and northern South America.
Baltimore Orioles make hanging pendulous nests at the end of long branches. They visit nectar feeders and love eating oranges. Their sharp, musical whistling calls can be heard high up in large trees.
Scarlet Tanager
The Scarlet Tanager is a medium-sized songbird, measuring 6.5-7 inches long. Males are unmistakable with brilliant red bodies and black wings and tail. Females are yellowish overall, with olive-colored wings.
Scarlet Tanagers breed in deciduous and mixed forests in eastern North America. They winter in South America. They are found throughout the eastern United States and Canada during the breeding season.
Scarlet Tanagers eat mainly insects. They forage by flying out from perches to catch insects mid-air. Their song is a raspy, buzzy series of chick-burr notes.
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbirds are common marsh birds. Males have striking shoulder patches of red with yellow borders. Their bodies are mostly black otherwise. Females are streaky brown overall.
Red-winged blackbirds are abundant year-round across North and Central America. They form huge winter flocks numbering in the hundreds of thousands. You can find them in wetlands across the continent.
Red-winged Blackbirds eat seeds, grains, and insects. Males perform a fluttering aerial display and call out conk-la-ree! to attract females and defend territories.
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbirds are large, striking members of the icterid family. Males have solid black bodies, a bright yellow head and breast, and a white wing patch. Females are much duller, with brown streaky bodies.
Yellow-headed Blackbirds breed in wetlands across western and central North America. They winter farther south. Look for them nesting in freshwater marshes with dense cattails and bulrushes.
These birds forage on the ground for insects and seeds. Males perform a bizarre courtship display, puffing up their feathers into a ruff and bobbing and spreading their wings.
Bobolink
Bobolinks are medium-sized songbirds with incredibly complex plumage patterns. Males in breeding plumage are mostly black on the back and head, with bright buffy patches on the nape, rump, and scapulars. Their underparts are varying mixtures of black and white.
Bobolinks breed in hayfields and grasslands across the United States and Canada. They migrate in large flocks through Central America to their wintering grounds in southern South America.
Bobolinks forage on seeds and grains. They have a beautiful, bubbly song that sounds like pink or konk-la-ree. They often sing in flight over fields.
Identifying the Baltimore Oriole
Of these five black and orange birds, the Baltimore Oriole stands out as the only one with vivid orange plumage contrasting with solid black on the head, wings, and tail. The orange color is concentrated on the underparts and shoulder area.
The pattern of the Baltimore Oriole’s black and orange plumage is unique. No other common North American bird matches this striking appearance.
Field Marks
To identify a Baltimore Oriole, look for these key field marks:
- Size – About 7-8 inches in length (similar to an American Robin)
- Bill – Pointed and conical
- Wings – Solid black
- Underparts – Vivid orange
- Head – Solid black hood
- Back – black
- Rump/Shoulders – orange
- Song – Sharp, whistling notes
Behavior
Baltimore Orioles exhibit behavior consistent with other oriole species:
- Forages in trees
- Drinks nectar from flowers
- Makes a hanging pendulous nest
- Can swarm when feeding on fruit
Habitat
Baltimore Orioles are found in open woodlands, forest edges, riverbanks, and backyards with large trees. Look for them:
- In deciduous trees
- Along riparian corridors
- In mature open woods
- In parks and yards with tall trees
Range
Baltimore Orioles breed in the eastern United States and Canada. Their range centers around the Great Lakes and Northeast regions. They winter in Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.
Similar Species
While the Baltimore Oriole’s black and orange plumage is distinct, it’s still important to rule out look-alike species. Here are some birds that could potentially confuse identification:
Bullock’s Oriole
Bullock’s Oriole is very similar to the Baltimore Oriole. Males have the same black and orange pattern. Bullock’s are found in western North America, the southwest, and Mexico, while Baltimore’s are in the east. Pay attention to range.
Scott’s Oriole
Scott’s Oriole is another similar western species with an orange body and black wings. But adult males have a solid yellow head, not black like the Baltimore.
Red-winged Blackbird
Male Red-winged Blackbirds have bold orange and yellow shoulder patches, but overall they are black. Red-winged blackbirds are smaller, have conical bills, and lack orange underparts.
Hooded Oriole
Male Hooded Orioles of the southwest and Mexico have orange underparts and black heads like Baltimore Orioles. But HOODED Orioles have solid orange tails and lack black on the wings.
Status
Baltimore Orioles have a large range and are relatively common across their breeding grounds in eastern North America. Their populations are generally stable. However, they may face threats from loss of mature open forests on their wintering grounds according to Partners in Flight, who give this species a Continental Concern Score of 7/20.
Interesting Facts
Here are a few fascinating and fun facts about Baltimore Orioles:
- Their scientific name is Icterus galbula. Icterus refers to New World oriole species.
- Orioles got the name Baltimore Oriole from their colors resembling the family crest of Lord Baltimore.
- The oldest recorded Baltimore Oriole lived to be 13 years and 5 months old.
- Baltimore Orioles help control insect pest populations by eating harmful caterpillars such as tent caterpillars, fall webworms, and gypsy moth larvae.
- Their nests hang from the underside of branches, often over water. They weave a sack-like structure from fibers and line it with soft materials.
Conclusion
The Baltimore Oriole stands out among North American songbirds for its striking black and orange plumage. Its bright orange underparts and shoulders contrast strongly with black wings, head, and back. No other common eastern bird matches this exact pattern and color combination. Baltimore Orioles have a pleasant whistling song and make hanging pendulous nests. They can be found in summer across eastern North America in open deciduous woods, along waterways, and in leafy backyards.
