Dastardly Duos: Female Orioles

By Larry Liese
Article originally published in the May/June 2004 Vermilion Flycatcher

Hooded Oriole, Lois Manowitz

Now which group of birds are the most brightly colored here in southeast Arizona? Trogons? Hummingbirds? How about warblers? Everyone probably has their favorite, but one group should come out high on anyone’s list: orioles! We’ll take a look at some summer resident female orioles that are much harder to tell apart than their male counterparts. The Hooded, Scott’s, and Bullock’s Orioles are common summer residents in our area. And though the brightly colored males are easy to identify, I warn you the gals are much harder to tell apart! 

Habitat clues may help in mid-summer, but not much in migration. Hooded and Bullock’s Orioles prefer riparian woodland, with Bullock’s associating with large Fremont cottonwoods. One finds the Hooded in a wide variety of habitats beyond riparian, including desert scrub, and particularly with palm trees in residential neighborhoods. Scott’s Orioles are more adapted to arid, open habitat, though they avoid true desert. Look for them in yucca grasslands and in oak and pine/oak woodlands.

Scott's Oriole, Bryanjsmith

Size-wise, the Scott’s is largest, with Bullock’s close behind and the Hooded being much slimmer. Also, Hoodeds have longish necks and tails compared to the others, belying the fact that they weigh only two-thirds of the other two. 

Upon determining that a newly seen bird is an oriole by size, shape (particularly bill shape), and other factors, if it seems to be a female not interacting with male orioles, what does one look for next? Key field marks are bill shape, overall darkness, and breaks in color pattern on the underparts. 

Scott’s Oriole females are darker than the other two, especially on the head, and are the only ones with (variable) black on the throat. They also will have some streaking on the back that should not be found on Hooded Orioles, while only a little dusky streaking should be found there on female Bullock’s. Again, Scott’s are larger, with heavier bills that are long and slightly decurved.

Female Hooded Orioles will look much slimmer, with a distinctly curved culmen (top ridge of upper bill). They are paler and more evenly colored, with less strongly marked wing bars. 

Bullock's Oriole, Martin Molina

I always look at underpart color where the legs come out on female Bullock’s Oriole candidates. The breast and undertail coverts will be yellowish, but the central area where the legs come out will be cream-colored. Be careful though; Hooded Oriole females have cream-colored flanks that can appear to extend to the lower belly. The Bullock’s will have a long area with no yellow there. Female Bullock’s Orioles have a slight hint of the dark eyeline the male is famous for. Look for it making a lighter-looking supercilium on the bird. Bullock’s also have a straighter, sturdier bill than the Hooded. 

I must admit that when I hear orioles singing, I just listen to how pretty they sound instead of trying to learn their differences. The Bullock’s is supposed to be more nasal, while the Scott’s is compared to Western Meadowlark’s song, and the Hooded’s is described as rapid and varied. Orioles also make chattering sounds, often while hidden in vegetation. I’m sure one can learn to identify them through song with just a little practice.

With summer almost here, plan to try telling the female orioles apart BEFORE you wait for a nearby male to give her away. Good luck!