Re: [Maine-birds] Bullock's Oriole

All,

Here is a link to Ken's photo (Stella's version linked to a mobile version; same photo).

http://flic.kr/p/jvQ5C7

This is an interesting bird, and I might have seen photos of this bird previously. The extensive gray on the belly and yellowish tail and undertail coverts look very much like Bullock's Oriole. The hooded look with olive cheeks and a sort of burnt orange in the forehead along with the deepening orangey tones to the throat suggest Baltimore. A classic Bullock's Oriole should have the cheeks as bright in color as the malar and throat, a dark line through the eye, and a more or less obvious pale supercillium above the eye. This bird does not show this, at least in this single image. To me, this bird looks like a possible hybrid or intergrade between Bullock's and Baltimore. More photos and notes would be great to see.

There is a "toothed" look to the black centers on the median coverts (forming the upper wingbar). This pattern is more typical of Bullock's Oriole, but some Baltimore Orioles can show black "points" like this. The innermost median covert, however, seems to have a black line to the tip of the feather, which is rare in both species but probably more apt to show up on Bullock's. Another feature to look for is the pattern on the greater coverts (the longer feathers below the median coverts and upper wingbar). On Bullock's, these are often edged along the outer margin with white. Although hidden, this bird seems to show "lines" of white that hint it has this pattern, at least on the inner greater coverts. Another character that would be good to see is the back pattern. If there are obvious dark-centered feathers in the back, then that is a Baltimore trait.

Like Kumlien's and Thayer's Gulls (ahem!), there are some birds that are difficult to put a name on between two species that hybridize frequently. I think this bird is one of those. There are also cases where seeing a bird in life makes a difference. Photos are notorious for misrepresenting orange and yellow tones in orioles, and for not picking up subtle patterns (e.g. a pale supercillium and dark line may be hidden due to posture and feather position). So a good description of what this bird looked like in life would be important.

Even if a potential hybrid or something we can name as one species or the other, it would be worth studying this bird. Allow me to make a pitch for gathering documentation (photos and descriptions) and submitting them to the Maine Bird Records Committee (send to Doug Hitchcox, secretary). Bullock's Oriole is a review species. Here is a link that describes how to submit a report:

https://sites.google.com/site/mainebirdrecordscommittee/rare-bird-report-form

Louis Bevier

Fairfield