Spring migration-Orchard Orioles

I love this time of year when all the colorful summertime birds start returning. Unlike the flame orange Baltimore Orioles that nest in trees in my yard, the deep russet colored Orchard Orioles stop by during migration each year, but I only see them here for a few days.

The orchard oriole is the smallest species of icterid. They mainly eat insects, and enjoy some berries and flower nectar. And as you can see in these photos they don't mind having a snack of grape jelly with a side of oranges at the feeder by my window. (Forgive the dirty window shots)

Orchard Orioles nest in groups, sometimes with multiple nests in a single tree.
Their nest is a hanging pouch or basket, made of woven of grass and plant fibers, lined with soft grass and plant down.

Turpial Castaño (Spanish)

Oriole des vergers (French)

Females are dull yellow-green with white wingbars. Juvenile males are similarly colored, but have a black mask and throat patch.

Orchard Orioles migrate north late in the spring and leave again midsummer to return to their
wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America.
My area in south central Wisconsin is at the edge of their breeding range.

Range map from Cornell Labs All About Birds.

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