Re: [SBB] Possible Oriole in Cupertino backyard
- Subject: Re: [SBB] Possible Oriole in Cupertino backyard
- From: "Michael Pollack" <[[email protected]]>
- Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 16:17:18 -0800
- Delivery-date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 19:17:33 -0500
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> I think it's either a Hooded Oriole or an Orchard Oriole. Both
> are rarities
> in winter, but Orchard seems to show up more often (for example, both last
> winter and this winter in San Francisco). Either way, it's a good bird!
>
> If the colors are true, the slightly greenish tint to the yello (as
> opposed to orangish) favors Orchard, but I don't think it is a definitive
> mark. The bill does not look especially short to me, so the bill might
> favor Hooded. Can you say anything about the size of the bird -- did it
> appear close to a Yellow-rumped Warbler in size, or much larger?
>
> I think others may have more immediate access to better ID criteria.
>
> Regards, Al eisner
Hi Al,
Thanks for the quick response. I was aware of the Orchard Oriole being seen
in SF and that fact gave me a little more to ponder.
Hard to say how accurate the colors are in the photos, but my impression of
the color at the time was that the yellow was quite neutral, with neither an
orangish nor greenish tint particularly noticeable.
I took careful note of the bill and it seemed to be fairly long and
decurved. I almost could have ruled out the Orchard Oriole based on the
illustration in Sibley. But then I checked my National Geographic Field
Guide, and its illustration depicts the Orchard's bill as longer and more
decurved than does Sibley. So... more uncertainty.
Size-wise, the bird was clearly bigger that a Yellow Rumped Warbler, and was
consistent with Hooded Orioles I've seen before.
For anyone that might be interested, my home is near Blackberry Farm's
softball field, and is pretty close to McClellan Ranch. I put my oriole
feeder out in the backyard and I'm watching closely for this bird to return.
Michael
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