The Baltimore Orioles

(Icterus Galbula)

Maryland State Bird

 

Male Baltimore Orioles have an orange and black plumage, and are about 7 to 8 inches long. Female Baltimore orioles have brownish olive back and wings and orange belly and are a bit smaller then the males.Baltimore Orioles prefer open areas with tall trees. they have long tails and long pointed beaks. They feed on insects, fruit, and nectar. They arrive in the United States in the spring to breed, and return to Mexico, Central, and South America during the fall. They build haning nest out of bark, grass, vegetiblee matter, and some artificial items like string. The nest is woven together on the tip of a branch and have a single opening on the top. The female lays and cares for the four or five bluish white eggs. Both parents will continue bringing the food to the young and feed them after they leave their nest for aobut two weeks.