Orioles are brightly colored songbirds found in many parts of North America. They are striking birds with contrasting colors of orange, black, white, and sometimes yellow. This leads to some confusion over whether these birds should be described as orange or yellow. In this article, we will examine the plumage of different oriole species and subspecies to help determine whether “orange” or “yellow” is the more accurate term for these birds’ vibrant feathers.
What are orioles?
Orioles belong to the genus Icterus in the bird family Icteridae. There are about 30 recognized species of orioles found in the Americas. Some well-known oriole species include:
- Northern Oriole
- Orchard Oriole
- Baltimore Oriole
- Scott’s Oriole
- Hooded Oriole
Orioles get their name from their resemblance to the Eurasian golden oriole, a related old world species with bright golden plumage. The term “oriole” is derived from the Latin aureolus meaning “golden”.
While the Eurasian golden oriole is solidly golden in color, the plumage of New World oriole species is more variable. Most have bold black and white markings combined with vivid orange or yellow feathers. The amount of orange versus yellow on an oriole can vary regionally and between subspecies.
Orange versus yellow color in birds
In ornithology, “orange” and “yellow” are technical terms used to describe specific shades and hues of a bird’s plumage. Orange feathers have wavelengths in the range of about 575-595 nanometers. Yellow feathers reflect light in the wavelength range of about 535-575 nanometers.
To the human eye, these hues can appear very similar. But to researchers carefully categorizing bird color, orange and yellow are distinct. Plumage that reflects light predominantly in the long orange wavelength range would be classified as orange rather than yellow.
Orange Oriole Species
Several oriole species can be accurately described as having orange plumage. Here are some details on three oriole species with predominantly orange feathers:
Northern Oriole
The Northern Oriole (Icterus galbula) is the most widespread North American oriole species. It has an extensive range across much of the central and eastern United States and Canada.
The male Northern Oriole has a striking orange plumage that covers its head, back, wings, and tail. The orange color results from feathers that reflect light predominantly within the 575-595 nanometer wavelength range that defines orange.
Body Region | Color |
---|---|
Head | Orange |
Back | Orange |
Belly | Whitish with black streaks |
Wings | Orange with black markings |
Tail | Orange |
The female Northern Oriole has duller orange-yellow plumage. But even the female’s feathers produce reflection patterns predominantly in the orange wavelength range. Both male and female Northern Orioles can confidently be described as orange birds.
Orchard Oriole
The Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) breeds in the eastern and central United States and winters in Central America. The male’s plumage, like the Northern Oriole, is primarily orange on the head, back, wings, and tail. This orange coloration even more closely matches the hue we think of as orange.
Body Region | Color |
---|---|
Head | Orange |
Back | Orange |
Belly | Yellowish with black markings |
Wings | Orange and black |
Tail | Orange |
The female Orchard Oriole is more yellow-green overall. But even so, both male and female Orchard Orioles are considered primarily orange birds.
Hooded Oriole
The Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The adult male has a striking orange body and black hood, wings, and tail.
Body Region | Color |
---|---|
Head | Orange with black hood |
Back | Orange |
Belly | Yellowish |
Wings | Black with orange markings |
Tail | Black |
The female Hooded Oriole is mostly yellow-green. But the prevalence of orange on the male still makes this an orange oriole species.
Yellow Oriole Species
While some orioles can rightly be called orange birds, other oriole species have plumage that reflects more light in the yellow wavelength range from 535-575 nanometers. Here are some details on oriole species considered to be primarily yellow:
Baltimore Oriole
The Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) is named for its black and vivid orange plumage resembling the family colors of Lord Baltimore. It breeds across eastern North America.
While the male Baltimore Oriole appears bright orange, its feathers actually produce a reflection pattern centered closer to yellow wavelengths. Compared to other oriole species, the hue is less intensely orange.
Body Region | Color |
---|---|
Head | Black and yellow-orange |
Back | Black and yellow-orange |
Belly | Yellowish with black markings |
Wings | Black with yellow-orange markings |
Tail | Black and yellow-orange |
The female Baltimore Oriole is mostly yellowish-orange. Ornithologists consider the Baltimore Oriole’s plumage to fall more in the yellow range than solid orange.
Scott’s Oriole
Scott’s Oriole (Icterus parisorum) is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The male has a yellow body with black on the head, wings and tail:
Body Region | Color |
---|---|
Head | Yellow with black markings |
Back | Yellow |
Belly | Yellow |
Wings | Black with yellow markings |
Tail | Black |
The female Scott’s Oriole is duller greenish-yellow. But the prevalence of yellow wavelengths puts this species in the yellow oriole category.
Audubon’s Oriole
Audubon’s Oriole (Icterus graduacauda) is found in southwestern Texas and northern Mexico. The male has a yellow body with a black head, wings, and tail:
Body Region | Color |
---|---|
Head | Black |
Back | Yellow |
Belly | Yellow |
Wings | Black with yellow markings |
Tail | Black |
The female Audubon’s Oriole is dull greenish-yellow. But the prominent yellow coloration indicates this is a yellow oriole species.
Hybrid orange and yellow orioles
In areas where the ranges of oriole species overlap, hybrid birds sometimes occur. Hybrids often show a mix of orange and yellow tones in their plumage. Two examples are:
Baltimore Oriole hybrids
Where the Baltimore Oriole’s range overlaps with the brighter orange Bullock’s and Hooded Orioles in the west, hybrid specimens sometimes occur. These hybrid orioles can show an even mixture of yellow and orange plumage.
Northern Oriole hybrids
Northern Orioles sometimes hybridize with the yellowish Scott’s Orioles where their ranges meet in the southwestern US. The resulting hybrid orioles display a blend of orange and yellow coloration.
The occurrence of these hybrids demonstrates that orange and yellow are not completely discrete categories for oriole species. There can be gradations between the two colors.
Conclusion
In summary, while some oriole species can fairly be categorized as either orange or yellow birds based on their predominant plumage hues, other species fall somewhere in between. Factors like geographic variation, subspecies differences, and occasional hybridization mean that color in orioles can be a spectrum.
But in general terms, the Northern Oriole, Hooded Oriole, and Orchard Oriole are considered the most solidly orange species. Meanwhile the Baltimore Oriole, Scott’s Oriole, and Audubon’s Oriole fall more clearly into the yellow category. Appreciating the variation in these vivid songbirds lets us admire the full spectrum of colorful oriole plumage.