Orchard Oriole vs Scarlet Tanager

Orchard Oriole

Icterus spurius

How to recognise an orchard oriole?

General appearance

The orchard oriole is a small bird about the size of a robin. It is smaller than the Baltimore Oriole, with a unique rounded wing shape and rounded, square-tipped tail shape. The bird's size is characterized as 7, measured in 18cm. The oriole’s colour palette consists of black, green, orange, red, white, and yellow.

Male vs female

There are noticeable differences between males and females. The adult male orchard oriole is unmistakable with its striking black and chestnut coloration. On the other hand, the female is smaller and flaunts an all yellow-green appearance. They lack the orange tone seen in the female Baltimore and Bullock's Orioles and have a shorter bill compared to Hooded Oriole.

Juvenile

One-year-old males, or juveniles, resemble the females but have a distinguishing black throat. This characteristic is one of the earliest signs to distinguish between young males and females.

Size

5.9 - 7.1 in/0.6 - 0.9 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The orchard oriole typically resides in semi-open habitats with deciduous trees and open spaces including riverside trees, orchards, suburbs, forest edges, and prairie groves. It avoids unbroken forests.

Additional range

In the winter, the orchard oriole migrates to tropical lowlands, favoring brushy areas and woodland edges.

Range Map

What do orchard orioles like to eat?

Natural diet

The orchard oriole's diet primarily consists of insects, with a strong preference for caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers during the summer. Their diet also includes spiders and varies with the seasons. In fall and winter, they tend to consume more berries, while nectar and parts of flowers are common components of their diet year-round.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, orchard orioles are known to be attracted by offerings such as fruit, nectar, and sometimes jelly due to their natural preference for sugary foods and fruits. However, they may be less frequent at feeders compared to other oriole species.

What does an orchard oriole sound like?

The orchard oriole's vocalization resembles a rapid musical warble, akin to the Purple Finch, albeit less rich in quality. Its call pattern follows a complex, undulating, and descending sequence. Typified by sounds resembling a chirp or chip, the orchard oriole's songs also tend to flute-like and whistle tones, giving its vocal repertoire a distinctive sound.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Richard E. Webster

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

How to recognise a scarlet tanager?

General appearance

The scarlet tanager is roughly the size of a robin or sparrow, measuring in at 7 1/2" (19 cm). The bird's wings are rounded and the tail shape can be either notched, rounded, or square-tipped. The most common colours for the bird include black, green, red, and yellow.

Male vs female

In spring and summer, the male scarlet tanager is the only bird boasting a brilliant red body with contrasting black wings and tail. In winter, the male's plumage becomes a greenish hue, with black wings. On the other hand, female are a dull yellow-green colour, with darker wings. A thick bill and sluggish behaviour are also notable characteristics of the female tanager.

Juvenile

Juvenile tanagers have similar colouration to adults, but it is less vivid and their shape and size is smaller. They may also exhibit more greenish hues, similar to the adult's winter plumage. As they mature, their coloration deepens, especially in males.

Size

6.3 - 6.7 in/0.8 - 1.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The scarlet tanager primarily inhabits deciduous forests rich in oaks, but they can also thrive in forests with maple, beech, and other trees. Pine-oak woods and coniferous woods dominated by pine or hemlock are occasionally occupied.

Additional range

During the winter, the scarlet tanager moves to tropical rain forests in the lowlands just east of the Andes.

Range Map

What do scarlet tanagers like to eat?

Natural diet

The scarlet tanager primarily feeds on insects during the breeding season, including beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and ants. It also consumes fruits and berries, such as mulberries and blackberries, especially in the late summer and fall.

Bird feeders

While scarlet tanagers do not frequently visit bird feeders, they may occasionally eat suet or mealworms provided in backyards. During migration or when natural food sources are scarce, they might be attracted to feeders offering fruit or jelly.

What does a scarlet tanager sound like?

The Scarlet Tanager's vocalizations are characterized by a hurried, repetitive warble, slightly resembling a Robin's. It has a specific call note that is emphatic and nasal, referred to as "chip-bang." The call patterns alter between falling and rising. The calls are typically described as a buzz, chirp/chip, or whistle.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

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Orchard Oriole

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Scarlet Tanager

Orchard Oriole

Icterus spurius

General appearance

The orchard oriole is a small bird about the size of a robin. It is smaller than the Baltimore Oriole, with a unique rounded wing shape and rounded, square-tipped tail shape. The bird's size is characterized as 7, measured in 18cm. The oriole’s colour palette consists of black, green, orange, red, white, and yellow.

Male vs female

There are noticeable differences between males and females. The adult male orchard oriole is unmistakable with its striking black and chestnut coloration. On the other hand, the female is smaller and flaunts an all yellow-green appearance. They lack the orange tone seen in the female Baltimore and Bullock's Orioles and have a shorter bill compared to Hooded Oriole.

Juvenile

One-year-old males, or juveniles, resemble the females but have a distinguishing black throat. This characteristic is one of the earliest signs to distinguish between young males and females.

Size

5.9 - 7.1 in/0.6 - 0.9 oz

There's more to learn about Orchard Oriole

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Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

General appearance

The scarlet tanager is roughly the size of a robin or sparrow, measuring in at 7 1/2" (19 cm). The bird's wings are rounded and the tail shape can be either notched, rounded, or square-tipped. The most common colours for the bird include black, green, red, and yellow.

Male vs female

In spring and summer, the male scarlet tanager is the only bird boasting a brilliant red body with contrasting black wings and tail. In winter, the male's plumage becomes a greenish hue, with black wings. On the other hand, female are a dull yellow-green colour, with darker wings. A thick bill and sluggish behaviour are also notable characteristics of the female tanager.

Juvenile

Juvenile tanagers have similar colouration to adults, but it is less vivid and their shape and size is smaller. They may also exhibit more greenish hues, similar to the adult's winter plumage. As they mature, their coloration deepens, especially in males.

Size

6.3 - 6.7 in/0.8 - 1.2 oz

There's more to learn about Scarlet Tanager

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How to tell the Orchard Oriole from the Scarlet Tanager

Visual differences

Orchard Orioles are smaller (6-7 inches) than Scarlet Tanagers (7.5 inches). Male Orioles are black and chestnut, while male Tanagers are vivid red with black wings. Female Orioles are yellow-green, unlike the duller yellow-green female Tanagers with darker wings. Orioles have a rounded wing and square-tipped tail; Tanagers have either notched or rounded wings and tail. Tanagers have a thicker bill. These differences in size, color, and body features are key for distinguishing between the two species visually.

Key differences and behavior

The Orchard Oriole and Scarlet Tanager exhibit distinct behavioral and ecological preferences. Orchard Orioles prefer semi-open habitats with deciduous trees and are often seen in orchards and suburbs, while Scarlet Tanagers favor dense deciduous forests, sometimes inhabiting coniferous areas. Orioles travel at night during migration, whereas Tanagers migrate east of the Andes in the tropics. Orioles display less territorial behavior and may nest closely with others, whereas Tanagers are territorial with male displays. Both birds eat insects, but Orioles also consume nectar and berries, especially in colder months, while Tanagers shift to fruit consumption in late summer and fall. Orioles frequent bird feeders for sugary foods, though less often than other orioles, in contrast to the Tanagers' occasional visits for suet or fruit. Notably, Scarlet Tanagers are monogamous for one season, differing from the more social Orchard Oriole's nesting habits.