Black-backed Oriole
Icterus abeillei
The Black-backed Oriole (Icterus abeillei) is a rare new world blackbirds, troupials, and alli found in 2 countries, weighing about 33 g. The black-backed oriole is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds.
About the Black-backed Oriole
The black-backed oriole is a species of bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds. It is endemic to Mexico.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black-backed oriole is 18 to 20.5 cm (7.1 to 8.1 in) long and weighs 31 to 37 g (1.1 to 1.3 oz). Adult males are black on the crown, sides of the head, nape, and upperparts. They have an orange line above the lores, thin orange crescents above and below the eye, and orange cheeks. Their upperwing is mostly black with wide white edges on the flight feathers. The wing's median and greater coverts are white and show as a large patch on the closed wing. Their tail's three outer pairs of feathers are yellow with black tips and the rest are black. Voice: The black-backed oriole's song is "a rich warble, often with some scratchy notes" that covers a rather wide frequency range. Its calls include a "loud chatter and nasal chay".
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States.
When to see it
The Black-backed Oriole can be seen all year round, with peak activity in February. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-backed Oriole?
- The black-backed oriole is 18 to 20.5 cm (7.1 to 8.1 in) long and weighs 31 to 37 g (1.1 to 1.3 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-backed Oriole?
- The Black-backed Oriole is a small sized bird weighing about 33 g.
- Where can you see a Black-backed Oriole?
- The Black-backed Oriole occurs in 2 countries, including Mexico.
- What birds look similar to a Black-backed Oriole?
- The Black-backed Oriole is most easily confused with the Puerto Rican Oriole, the Orange-crowned Oriole and the Orange Oriole.
- Is the Black-backed Oriole endangered?
- The Black-backed Oriole is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-backed Oriole for real
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