ID Keys: (males) Broken streaks on upper back, head obviously deeper
orange than orange body
The
Streak-backed Oriole is a bird of Mexico and Central America, but a few
sometimes stray into southern Arizona and California, primarily in the fall
and winter. However, there are a few records of breeding in the U.S.
Streak-backed Orioles are distinguished by the broken dark streaks on an
orange back, and a darker orange on their head than on the rest of their
body. In the northern part of their range, including those birds that cross
into the U.S., males are much more brilliantly colored than females, as is
common with most Orioles. However, females are progressively brighter
as you move southward in the species' range, so much so that in the southern
part of their range they are sometimes difficult to distinguish from males.
Habitat
They are usually found in open woodlands
and semi-arid shrublands. In much of their range their prefer open
woodlands with thorny Mimosa shrubs in the undergrowth. They also seem
to prefer areas of other thorny bush species when Mimosa is not present.
Diet
Feeds heavily on insects and spiders, but
will also eat fruits, berries, seeds, and nectar.
Behavior
Tends to forage at moderate to high
elevations in the canopy of broad-leaf forests.
Nesting
Monagamous during the nesting season, a
female builds a hanging, basket-shaped nest from plant figures, typically
near the end of a tree branch. The clutch usually consists of 3 or 4
eggs, which hatch after about 2 weeks. The young are fed by both
parents, with the fledging occurring after about 2 weeks.
Song
Males sing a warbling
ooo-CHEE-ooo-CHEE-ooo-CHEE-ooo
Migration
Considered a permanent resident
throughout its range, some short distance migration is noted, as evidenced
by birds moving to the southwestern U.S. in fall and winter.
