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| Baltimore Oriole near the tree top. © SB |
(Perhaps there were more female Baltimore Orioles, but they are not as easy to see, being a soft yellow rather than the fiery torch orange of the males — a colour that's even brighter in red sun rays.)
I was at Wascana Park, Regina, Saskatchewan, in and around the bird pond by the Conexus Arts Centre, and what a gathering of birds!
Canada Geese, Double-crested Cormorants, Eastern and Western Kingbirds, Robins, a Brown Thrasher, three kinds of Warblers (Yellow, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crested), various sparrow and lots of Red-winged Blackbirds.
But the Baltimore Orioles were my favourite, live energy glowing and crackling at the tops of the tree! I love that orange flash!
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| Baltimore Oriole feeding on (insects in?) old leaves. © SB |
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| Baltimore Oriole - male. © SB |
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| Baltimore Oriole - female. © SB |
A reader posted to say that these birds are called Northern Orioles... Perhaps in some places, but recent printings of my guides continue to use the name, Baltimore Orioles.
Cornell's All About Birds has this to say:
"The Baltimore Oriole hybridizes extensively with the Bullock's Oriole where their ranges overlap in the Great Plains. The two species were considered the same for a while and called the Northern Oriole, but in the 1990s, after genetic studies, they were separated again."So, Baltimore Oriole is the name I'm using here.
What are there? Baltimore Orioles
Location: Wascana Park, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Photo date: May 18, 2013.
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It's now called a Northern Oriole, and I think it's been that for about thirty-something years.
ReplyDeleteThere is some interesting history related to the name of these birds, that's for sure.
DeleteI've edited the post above to add information at the end from Cornell's All About Bird web site, re: these Orioles' name change to Northern, and then back once more to Baltimore.
Thanks for dropping by.
I saw them at wascana this morning in the fountain and flower garden by the legislative building. Te bright yellow was so beautiful I had to look them up when I got home!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this! They are almost impossibly bright, aren't they?
DeleteHi Shelley,
DeleteYes, they were really bright. Such a treat for the eyes! I saw another bright yellowy-orange bellied bird flying high in the trees near the marina today. And the pelicans were swimming in the lake. Lots of birds this afternoon in Wascana in fact!
Laura
Has anyone seen the bobolinks in wascana? Been trying to find them. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI’ve seen them just north of the city — once at Condie.
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