More Color for Drab Days: The Bullock's Orioles on the Tuolumne River

I admit it. I can't resist the Orioles. They are one of the flashiest colorful birds out there right now, and I'm seeing them a tiny bit more often these days. There are at least three individuals on the trail at the moment, and I am getting used to where they like to feed. The picture above shows that they might be getting tired of me taking their picture, though...

The black eye strip and black crown identifies this one as a male Bullock's Oriole (icterus bullockii). I'm on the lookout now for some sign of their unique nests. They build a hanging affair out of palm fibers, and there are several promising palms along the trail.

The females are not as flashy as the males, but I have seen one or two so far. These birds are tropical migrants with a winter home in Mexico or Central America. I always enjoy their summer sojourn on the river, and I look forward to more sightings in the weeks to come.