[order] PASSERIFORMES | [family] Icteridae | [latin] Icterus gularis | [UK] Altamira Oriole | [FR] Oriole a gros bec | [DE] Schwarzkehl-Trupial | [ES] Bolsero campero | [NL] Altamira-troepiaal
Subspecies
| Genus | Species | subspecies | Breeding Range | Breeding Range 2 | Non Breeding Range |
| Nesopsar | gularis | ||||
| Icterus | gularis | NA, MA | s Texas to Honduras | ||
| Icterus | gularis | flavescens | |||
| Icterus | gularis | gigas | |||
| Icterus | gularis | gularis | |||
| Icterus | gularis | tamaulipensis | |||
| Icterus | gularis | troglodytes | |||
| Icterus | gularis | yucatanensis |
Physical charateristics
Very similar to Hooded Oriole, but larger, thicker-billed, and more orange (does not shade off to yellow on rump and belly). The point to look for is the upper wing bar, which is yellow or orange
instead of white. Sexes similar.
instead of white. Sexes similar.
Listen to the sound of Altamira Oriole
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Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
| wingspan min.: | 33 | cm | wingspan max.: | 39 | cm |
| size min.: | 21 | cm | size max.: | 25 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 13 | days | incubation max.: | 16 | days |
| fledging min.: | 0 | days | fledging max.: | 0 | days |
| broods: | 11 | eggs min.: | 3 | ||
| eggs max.: | 4 |
Range
North America, Middle America : South Texas to Honduras
Habitat
Open tropical woodland and edges.
In our area, resident mostly in native woodland near Rio Grande in southern Texas. Farther south in Mexico and Central America, widespread in lowlands and lower foothills in open dry woods, forest edge, streamside groves, scattered trees in open country;
usually avoids unbroken humid forest.
In our area, resident mostly in native woodland near Rio Grande in southern Texas. Farther south in Mexico and Central America, widespread in lowlands and lower foothills in open dry woods, forest edge, streamside groves, scattered trees in open country;
usually avoids unbroken humid forest.
Reproduction
In Texas, breeds mostly from late April to late July.
Nest: Placed quite conspicuously out at the end of a horizontal branch of a tree, averages about 30′ up, can be 10-
80′ above the ground. In the tropics, nest may be suspended from telephone wires. Nest is a very long hanging bag or pouch (with the entrance at the top), up to 2′ long, woven of Spanish moss, grass
, palm fibers, weeds, strips of bark; lined with plant down, hair, or feathers. Probably built by female; the process may take 3 weeks or more.
Eggs: 4-6, or fewer in southern part of range. Pale bluish white, blotched with black and lavender. Incubation behavior poorly known, probably lasts about 2 weeks.
Young: Both parents feed nestlings. Age at which young leave the nest is not well known.
Nest: Placed quite conspicuously out at the end of a horizontal branch of a tree, averages about 30′ up, can be 10-
80′ above the ground. In the tropics, nest may be suspended from telephone wires. Nest is a very long hanging bag or pouch (with the entrance at the top), up to 2′ long, woven of Spanish moss, grass
, palm fibers, weeds, strips of bark; lined with plant down, hair, or feathers. Probably built by female; the process may take 3 weeks or more.
Eggs: 4-6, or fewer in southern part of range. Pale bluish white, blotched with black and lavender. Incubation behavior poorly known, probably lasts about 2 weeks.
Young: Both parents feed nestlings. Age at which young leave the nest is not well known.
Feeding habits
Mostly insects and berries. Diet is not known in detail;
feeds on many insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars, also ants and many others, plus spiders. Also feeds on berries and small fruits, including those of hackberries and figs.
Behavior: Forages rather slowly and deliberately in trees, mostly high but also in low undergrowth, searching for insects. Will come to feeders for sugar-water and sometimes for other items.
feeds on many insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars, also ants and many others, plus spiders. Also feeds on berries and small fruits, including those of hackberries and figs.
Behavior: Forages rather slowly and deliberately in trees, mostly high but also in low undergrowth, searching for insects. Will come to feeders for sugar-water and sometimes for other items.
Conservation
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is extremely large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Migration
Southern tip of Texas south to Nicaragua. A locally common resident in lower Rio Grande Valley. Migration: Permanent resident throughout its range.
Distribution map
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