A mature male Orchard Oriole is a handsome sight, with rich chestnut underparts set off by black upperparts, head, and tail. Its black wings are accented by bright white wing bars. Female and juvenile Orchard Orioles are a more subdued yellowish-green. This is the smallest North American oriole species and is often overlooked in favor of its flashier cousin, the Baltimore Oriole. However, it’s an interesting bird in its own right.
The Orchard Oriole’s name hearkens back to an earlier time in American history, when this species often nested in orchards on small family farms. One of its folk names is orchard starling. Although many of these small farms have disappeared, the Orchard Oriole’s cheerful song can still be heard in suburban settings throughout the eastern U.S.
Part of a large genus, Icterus, which includes other New World oriole species such as the Audubon’s, Bahama, and Yellow Orioles, the Orchard Oriole’s species name, "spurius," derives from the Latin word for “illegitimate.” How did this small songbird get stuck with such a negative-sounding species name?
Read on to find out more: abcbirds.org/bird/orchard-oriole