Baltimore Oriole and Bullock’s Oriole

US east-coasters know all about the Baltimore Oriole.  But you might not be as familiar with the Bullock's Oriole, which inhabits the left-half of the United States. 

Like our previous post on the Rufous-capped Warbler and its relative the Chestnut-capped Warbler, it can be tough to tell the two species apart. East of the Great Plains you'll see Baltimore Orioles exclusively, likewise with the Bullock's Oriole West of the Rockies.  Their territories overlap in the Midwest though.

Here's a primer on how to tell the species apart:

Male eye colorings: This one is easy.  Baltimore Orioles have an all-black head, Bullock's Orioles' heads feature a mixture of black and orange with a black eye line along each eye.

Female wing bar: The Baltimore Oriole female has a smooth upper wing bar as opposed to the serrated kind found on the Bullock's Oriole.

These two species' territories overlap in the Great Plains, so if you see a bird that resembles both you might have found a hybrid!