tags: Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius, photographed Wisconsin. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Bardiac, 15 May 2010 [larger view].
Canon Eos, 70x300 zoom + 2x.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
This bird is remarkable among all its family members for one of its special features, can you tell me what that feature is?
The Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius, is the smallest North American species of icterid blackbird. Due to their small size and bright colors, these birds are sometimes mistakenly identified as New World warblers.
How did this bird get its peculiar specific name?
The specific name spurius refers to the original mis-identification of the male as a female Baltimore Oriole.
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Orchard oriole. Brick red color is diagnostic. Smallest oriole?
You nailed it, Jim. I could tell because it seems to be in a citrus orchard. Fine-looking male too.
Wikipedia says that "spurious" refers to the original misidentification of the male as a female Baltimore Oriole. Perhaps the special feature is the smaller bill?
I only just read who took this. Lovely pic, Bardiac.
Oh, great! I missed that too, until you pointed it out, Adrian. Good on you, Bardiac! It is indeed a lovely shot.
Aww, thanks you folks. :)
Yep! Great photograph!