IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES:

Orchard Oriole

HOW MANY:

1

REPORTER:

Jay Carlisle
6105 Kirkwood Rd
Boise, ID 83709
208-830-3363

REPORTER EMAIL:

jaycarlisle@boisestate.edu

OTHER OBSERVERS:

none

DATE REPORT PREPARED:

8-23-06

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

8-21-06

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

Camas NWR headquarters, Hamer, Jefferson Co.

HABITAT:

riparian woodland/edge

CONDITIONS:

clear, light breeze, sun was to my SE and I looked E, NE, & N towards the bird (the bird was not backlit). At first the bird was calling from 75-100 feet from me; then I approached & the bird flew over me at about 30 feet. I did not see the bird through binoculars but I do have excellent vision (measured at 20/12) that allows me to see well at distances.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:

Yes, later the same day

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:

Yes, later the same day

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:

Sibley & National Geographic (4th ed.) field guides for North American birds; Howell & Webb's Guide to the Birds of Mexico; Peterson's Audio Guide to western birds and the USGS Patuxent Research Station's online bird ID guide (to listen to Hooded & Orchard Orioles)

DESCRIPTION:

I first heard a low, scolding chuk note that was repeated several times in succession (as mentioned above, at a distance of 75-100 feet). My first thought was wren due to the scolding nature but I soon realized it didn’t sound right for a wren and was coming from higher in a tree than is typical for wrens. As I approached, I saw a small (i.e. smaller than a Bullock’s), all yellow (chest, belly, undertail) oriole fly out over me at a distance of about 30’. The bird was calling as it flew over me. When I first glimpsed the bird in flight, my impression was of a tanager-sized bird but as I continued to follow the bird, I could see a narrower bill, the bird was more slender than a tanager, the tail was relatively longer than on a tanager, and the call notes were nothing like the familiar call notes of tanagers (Western or other). I followed it as it continued west down ‘Redstart Lane’ (western edge of the headquarters oasis), calling at intervals. I soon lost site of the bird and, after 15 seconds or more, I stopped hearing it.

As mentioned above, I did not see the bird through binoculars but did see the bird well with the naked eye at about 30 feet as it flew over me.

BEHAVIOR:

I did not observe feeding or interactions with other birds. The vocalizations I heard were low and scolding in nature and had a 'chuk'-like sound which occurred singly a few times but also was strung together into a chattering.

The voice had a different quality altogether than the Bullock's Orioles that breed at and pass through Camas (but I haven't heard or seen one for almost a week as they've largely departed on migration) and, on hearing the calls (before seeing the bird), Bullock's had not entered my mind as a possibility.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?

After hearing the bird calling for 15-20 seconds, the calls were starting to become familiar but I had not put my finger on it until I saw the bird fly over me. Matching the quality of the scolding calls with the all yellow underparts of a small, slender oriole was the clincher. Had I been in South Dakota (where I spent much of 1999-2005 and where Orchard Orioles are common breeders/migrants), this would have been a no brainer and identified by calls alone. That I was out of context and not expecting this species caused the delay in recognizing what species I was hearing.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

While Bullock's is the expected oriole for Idaho, this was ruled out by coloration (immature & female Bullock's have a gray belly and often some orange tinge to the yellow parts whereas this bird had completely yellow underparts), larger size, and call notes. The only oriole with which Orchard might be confused is Hooded - a species equally unexpected in Idaho but with the most similar structure and coloration in immature/female birds. From the view I had of the bird, my only criteria could be body coloration, tail and bill length/shape, and vocalizations. The bird was relatively bright yellow below and, while variation likely exists, both Sibley and National Geographic show female Hoodeds being somewhat duller. Hooded Orioles have a relatively longer tail and bill than Orchard - while I noticed that the tail was longer than on a similarly-sized Western Tanager, it was not exceedingly long nor did I notice an especially long bill. Lastly, the vocalizations were comprised of single scolding 'chuk' notes and series of these notes rolled together. The only similar call notes for Hooded are a hard, dry, and rapid chatter (see Sibley and Howell & Webb) whereas what I heard was lower in tone and the chatter was not very rapid (I could make out individual notes).

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

I am very familiar with Orchard Orioles from my time in SD (common), CT (where they are uncommon to rare), and other central/eastern states. During my time in SD, I became familiar enough with their calls to identify them by sound alone. I am also familiar with Hooded Oriole(CA, AZ, TX, and Mexico), but less so than for Orchard and I am less familiar with the calls. I have seen many hundreds of Orchard Orioles and likely 50 or more Hooded Orioles.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

extensive; 13+ years of dedicated birding

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:

None