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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Perching Birds (Order Passeriformes)

-New World Blackbirds and Orioles (Family Icteridae)

-New World Orioles (Genus Icterus)

-Streak-backed Oriole (Icterus pustulatus)


The Streak-backed Oriole is a large oriole with mostly bright orange body except for the black streaks on its back. Deep orange-red head and breast contrast with a black face and chin. Black wings with two bold white bars. Black tail with white corners. Feeds heavily on insects and spiders, but will also eat fruits, berries, seeds, and nectar. They are usually found in open woodlands and semi-arid shrublands. They tend to forage at moderate to high elevations in the canopy of broad-leaf forests.

Streak-backed Oriole

Icterus pustulatus

Diet

  • Primarily insects, including caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, ants, and other arthropods.

  • Also feeds on fruits, berries, nectar, and occasionally seeds.

  • Forages in the canopy and middle levels of trees, gleaning insects from foliage and visiting flowering trees for nectar.

Range

  • Found from northwestern Mexico south along the Pacific slope through Central America to northwestern Costa Rica.

  • Widespread throughout western Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region, where it is a common year-round resident.

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, thorn forests, woodland edges, gallery forests, mangroves, plantations, parks, gardens, and semi-open habitats.

Male / Female

  • Male: Brilliant orange head, underparts, rump, and tail, with a distinctive black back heavily streaked with orange, black wings with white wing bars, and a black throat patch. Slightly larger and brighter than the female.

  • Female: Similar pattern but generally duller, with more yellowish-orange underparts and less distinct streaking on the back.

  • Juveniles: Olive-yellow overall with little or no black on the back.

  • The sexes are similar in appearance, but the male is typically brighter and more boldly marked.

Size

  • Length: 21–24 cm (8.3–9.4 in)

  • Wingspan: 30–34 cm (11.8–13.4 in)

  • Weight: 40–55 g

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