Hooded Oriole
Learn to identify the Hooded Oriole by ear. Master the "weet-tew tew-turee!" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the Hooded Oriole sounds like
Throaty scrapes and chatter mingle with a few whistles, making this medley much scratchier than sweet.
How to tell it apart
Where you'll hear it
Hooded Orioles breed mainly in the southwestern United States and much of Mexico. Some stay year-round in parts of Mexico, while U.S. birds are mostly summer visitors.
Look for it in open woodlands, desert edges, parks, and neighborhoods with tall palms, flowering trees, or dense ornamentals. In the Southwest, palm-lined streets and gardens are prime spots.
Spring is the best time to hear singing males as they return and claim nesting spots in palms. By late summer and fall, families wander more quietly through neighborhoods and desert washes before many head south.
How to recognize it by sight
A slim, flame-orange oriole with a black face and bib, the Hooded Oriole looks like a splash of sunset in the trees. It moves with quick, lively energy, slipping through palm fronds and flowering branches while giving sharp whistles and chatty calls.
Similar species
Bullock's Oriole
Male Bullock's shows a black line through the eye rather than a full black hood.
Scott's Oriole
Scott's male is black and bright yellow, not orange.
Streak-backed Oriole
Streak-backed is larger and heavier-billed, with obvious black streaking on the back.