Hooded Oriole

Hooded Oriole. Dixon Lake, Escondido, California. April 6, 2013. Greg Gillson.

With its black tail and back, and yellow-orange rump and hind-neck, the male Hooded Oriole flying away looks more like a male Western Tanager than Bullock's Oriole. Remember the tail of male Bullock's Oriole is orange with a thin black tip and central tail feathers.

Hooded Oriole doesn't have the prolonged deeper chatter of Bullock's Oriole, but it does have some chattering that is squeakier and shorter in duration--enough to recognize it as an oriole for those more familiar with Bullock's.

I was wondering when I was going to see Hooded Orioles, as I hadn't seen any since moving here in late September. They first showed up in very late March, the same week as Bullock's also showed up. In fact, both are found in San Diego County, April through September, though Hooded is generally more abundant--at least in towns and western lowlands of the county. Bullock's Oriole is less common, but more widespread in stream sides and more rural habitats.