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Orchard Oriole
Adult male--Head and upper part of back black; lower part of back and under parts rich chestnut brown; wings and tail nearly black, with light edges to the longer feathers.
Adult female--Head and back olive green; wings nearly black; breast and under parts dull greenish yellow. Length--7.32.
Immature male--Much the same as adult male during first year; the throat becomes black, and the chestnut shows during the second year.
Breeding Range--From the Gulf States northward to the southern parts of New England.
The nest is a wonderful basket-like structure of fresh grass, carefully and delicately woven, the upper edge being securely laced to small branches and leaves. Though usually placed in fruit trees, it may be found in almost any kind of tree, and at almost any distance from the ground up to about twenty-five feet. The eggs are pearly or bluish white with irregular deep brown and lilac gray lines and blotches. Number of eggs, 3 to 5. Size--.80 x .58. See Fig. 5, Plate C.
To find an Orchard Oriole's nest requires more than ordinarily keen eyes, especially when newly built, as the fresh grass so nearly matches the surrounding leaves; when the grass dies and becomes yellow, it is far more easily seen, but by that time the young are probably hatched. The sides of the nest are so thin that in some cases the contents may readily be seen from below. An apple or pear orchard is by far the most likely place in which to find the nest, but it may be found in a cedar or almost any kind of tree, frequently within a short distance of a house.
The nesting season begins towards the end of May.