Oriole Species:

[Guy L. Monty]

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Hi all,
 
   An oriole species was photographed in Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, on the 3rd of October, 2009. The sighting was recorded as a juvenile Bullock's Oriole, and forgotten about, probably due to the excitement of another rare bird being present. I asked for a copy of the photos, because Bullock's Oriole isn't a terribly common bird on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and the date is a bit late for anywhere in coastal B.C.
 
   Having been sent the photos, it's fairly obvious it's not a Bullock's Oriole. Since I have virtually no field experience with any of the likely contenders, and didn't receive any notes from the sighting other than, "It looked a bit small and yellow-ish for a Bullock's", I was wondering if someone could help me out with the identification of this bird.  Photos are here;
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/guylmonty/4028943319/
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/guylmonty/4028943115/
 
many thanks,
 
Guy L. Monty
Parksville, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

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[Kevin Karlson]

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Re: [BIRDWG01] Oriole Species:

 

Based on the coloration and more slender body structure, the bird is either a female Hooded or Orchard Oriole. This bird is very worn in plumage, but still shows a duller overall appearance where the gray back meets the grayish/green head, which is better for Hooded. Orchard is a bit brighter on the nape, which contrasts more with the grayish green back. A single wing bar is visible, with virtually no pale edges to the greater coverts, which is more consistent with Hooded, with female Orchard usually showing two defined wing bars. The worn condition of the flight feathers might influence the fact that the inner secondaries lack the dark bases typical of Orchard Oriole, but the present condition is more consistent with Hooded. The bill also shows a slightly longer and more decurved appearance than expected in Orchard, which has a straighter and slightly shorter bill. I base my opinion on extensive experience with Orchard Oriole (they nest in my yard), but I have very little experience with Hooded, so I welcome comments from West Coast experts. Kevin Karlson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Abu Anka" <guylmonty@...>
To: BIRDWG01@...
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 11:35:36 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [BIRDWG01] Oriole Species:

Hi all,
 
   An oriole species was photographed in Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, on the 3rd of October, 2009. The sighting was recorded as a juvenile Bullock's Oriole, and forgotten about, probably due to the excitement of another rare bird being present. I asked for a copy of the photos, because Bullock's Oriole isn't a terribly common bird on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and the date is a bit late for anywhere in coastal B.C.
 
   Having been sent the photos, it's fairly obvious it's not a Bullock's Oriole. Since I have virtually no field experience with any of the likely contenders, and didn't receive any notes from the sighting other than, "It looked a bit small and yellow-ish for a Bullock's", I was wondering if someone could help me out with the identification of this bird.  Photos are here;
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/guylmonty/4028943319/
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/guylmonty/4028943115/
 
many thanks,
 
Guy L. Monty
Parksville, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

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[Alvaro Jaramillo]

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Kevin and Guy

 

     I would call this an Orchard Oriole. This is one species pair where plumage is important, but if you concentrate on structural features they are perhaps more definitive than any specific plumage feature, at least in females and young. You also have to take into account that West Coast Hooded Orioles are kind of dull compared to the Texas birds. But the photos show a pretty short and shallowly rounded tail, as is typical of Orchard. Hooded has a real long tail and it is so graduated it can look pointed, in other words the central tail feathers should be much longer on that side view if this was a Hooded. The bill on this bird looks pretty standard for Orchard, not too long, and a slight curve but nothing out of this world. The western Hooded has a real long and droopy bill. Overall plumage tones also prefer Orchard, with that deep green coloration on the head and back, and a greenish wash to the yellow underparts. Hooded has a more yellowish face, with a greyish wash to the back and crown, and purer yellow underparts.

      Peter Burke e-mailed me independently with an Orchard Oriole identification on this bird. These are two species which are surprisingly difficult to identify from a photo, but much easier in real life. If the bird reminds you of a warbler or Scarlet Tanager, it’s an Orchard; while Hoodeds don’t give that impression for some reason, perhaps it is their greater length and extra long tail in particular.

 

Alvaro

 

Alvaro Jaramillo

chucao@...

Half Moon Bay, California

 

Field Guides - Birding Tours Worldwide

www.fieldguides.com

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From: NBHC ID-FRONTIERS Frontiers of Field Identification [mailto:BIRDWG01@...] On Behalf Of Kevin Karlson
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 10:01 AM
To: BIRDWG01@...
Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Oriole Species:

 

Re: [BIRDWG01] Oriole Species:

 

Based on the coloration and more slender body structure, the bird is either a female Hooded or Orchard Oriole. This bird is very worn in plumage, but still shows a duller overall appearance where the gray back meets the grayish/green head, which is better for Hooded. Orchard is a bit brighter on the nape, which contrasts more with the grayish green back. A single wing bar is visible, with virtually no pale edges to the greater coverts, which is more consistent with Hooded, with female Orchard usually showing two defined wing bars. The worn condition of the flight feathers might influence the fact that the inner secondaries lack the dark bases typical of Orchard Oriole, but the present condition is more consistent with Hooded. The bill also shows a slightly longer and more decurved appearance than expected in Orchard, which has a straighter and slightly shorter bill. I base my opinion on extensive experience with Orchard Oriole (they nest in my yard), but I have very little experience with Hooded, so I welcome comments from West Coast experts. Kevin Karlson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Abu Anka" <guylmonty@...>
To: BIRDWG01@...
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 11:35:36 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [BIRDWG01] Oriole Species:

Hi all,
 
   An oriole species was photographed in Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, on the 3rd of October, 2009. The sighting was recorded as a juvenile Bullock's Oriole, and forgotten about, probably due to the excitement of another rare bird being present. I asked for a copy of the photos, because Bullock's Oriole isn't a terribly common bird on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and the date is a bit late for anywhere in coastal B.C.
 
   Having been sent the photos, it's fairly obvious it's not a Bullock's Oriole. Since I have virtually no field experience with any of the likely contenders, and didn't receive any notes from the sighting other than, "It looked a bit small and yellow-ish for a Bullock's", I was wondering if someone could help me out with the identification of this bird.  Photos are here;
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/guylmonty/4028943319/
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/guylmonty/4028943115/
 
many thanks,
 
Guy L. Monty
Parksville, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

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