Streak-backed Oriole, 27 Nov - 5 Dec 2010
Latest update: 5 Dec 2010
On Nov 27, Paul Lehman found a Streak-backed Oriole northeast of Wellton, AZ. On Nov 28, we found that there were two similar orioles present at this location, and on Dec 4 Paul and company had both orioles in a pomegranate bush and confirmed that both are two Streak-backed Orioles. Al, Murray, and I had one of the orioles this morning, on Sunday, Dec 5. The birds are being seen in a number of locations, but the best viewing is when one or the other of the orioles feeds in the palo verdes on the north side of the road, just on the other side of the small irrigation canal. Click here for two maps to the site. Click here for comments on the bird's identification. Click here for links to other photos of the oriole.
MAPS
Directions if approaching the site from the east (Phoenix) -
Driving directions from the east:
- from I-8 take exit #37, towards Roll
- turn right (north) onto Ave 36E
- drive 4.0 miles north and then slightly northeast on Ave 36E (which turns into Roll Rd.)
- turn left (west) onto E County 6th Street (at the "T" junction)
- drive 2.2 miles west on E Co. 6th
- turn right (north) on Ave 35E
- drive 1.0 miles (north) on Ave 35E
- turn left (west) onto E County 5th Street
- drive 0.4 miles west E Co. 5th
- turn left (southwest) onto Mohawk Canal Road
- drive 0.4 miles to west side of ranch houses
Directions if you are approaching from the west (California) -
Driving directions:
- from I-8 take exit #30, Wellton
- turn left (north) on Ave 29E
- drive 2.3 miles north (through Wellton)
- turn right (east) on East Co. 9th
- drive 5.1 miles east on East Co. 9th
- turn left (north) onto Ave 34E
- drive 3.9 miles north on Ave 34E
- turn right (east) onto Mohawk Canal Road (you'll see the big pecans, eucalyptus, and other trees in the yard to the east)
- drive 0.2 miles east on Mohawk Canal Road to the west side of the first ranch house
DISCUSSION
Notes from Paul Lehman, 28 Nov:
Yesterday I found an oriole in sw AZ (35 miles east of Yuma) that had me slightly puzzled at first, but I ended up calling it a Streak-backed with a grayish back and only dusky back streaks. In other words, it had the back pattern shown by some Bullock's but with the streaks being a tad too bold for the most "streaked" looking individuals of that species. The rest of the bird looked OK for Streak-backed (female type). The bird also called repeatedly and gave a chatter that was softer, quicker, and shorter (only 1-2 seconds) compared to a Bullock's chatter (so a bit more like a Baltimore as well), so that seemed good for Streak-backed. Yuma birder Henry Detwiler chased it later in the day and got several photos. I am forwarding those three photos in a separate e-mail following this one. They are best for showing the bill, which looks straight and deep-based (as it appeared in the field), but the distribution of black and blue-gray on it seems a bit odd: the large patch of blue-gray at the base of the lower mandible extends out toward the tip perhaps more than is usual (?) AND that blue-gray color does seem to extend on to at least part of the cutting edge of the upper mandible, which I gather is a no-no for Streak-backed and would suggest Bullock's genes? So, is this bird a Streak-backed X Bullock's hybrid??Notes from Paul Lehman, 29 Nov:
First, I am back to thinking the bird is a pure-bred Streak-bad Oriole. Chris Taylor's super photos, and his and Kurt Radamaker's hearing the bird give typical Streak-backed calls all sound good. For photos of the Gilbert Water Ranch bird from a few years ago, and of Colorado's first Streak-backed also from a few years ago (which looks virtually identical to the current bird in Chris's photos) see:
Gilbert bird: http://sierrabirdbum.com/Birds/Arizona_New_Mexico/Streak-backed_Oriole_12-2-05.jpg
Colorado bird: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/News/Streak-backedOrioleCO08.htmNotes from Christopher Taylor, 28 Nov:
I might also add that it was continually calling with the signature "CHU-WHIT" whistle of Streak-backed Orioles while I was photographing it feeding on the bean/seed pods of the Palo Verde. I compared to other recordings on Xeno-Canto.org and it seems to match perfectly. I was not able to obtain good audio recordings of the bird in question due to high winds this afternoon.Notes from Kurt Radamaker, 28 Nov:
After seeing the bird, I had little trouble with it being a Streak-backed Oriole, especially after hearing the chatter and classic whistled "chu-eee" and "cheeeew" calls that I'm quite familiar with from a number of recent trips to Sonora and other parts of Mexico. I know these calls instantly. Other features were the straight bill and subtle scarlet red tones to the face. The color is not particularly visible in the previous photos, but in the field, at certain angles the face was fairly colorful around the base of the bill. I believe Orioles acquire alternate plumage from feather wear, so considering the rich color in the face it may be an immature male with feathers wearing around the base of the bill and face. Below is a link to an example of the chu and chu-eee calls from xeno-canto. The calls are at the beginning of the recording.
www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/uploaded/LNEEOOWCQR/Oriole_Streak_backed_calls_0156_210510_1500.mp3
LINKS
Excellent photos by Christopher Taylor: http://kiwifoto.com/f/sbao_yuma_112810