The Baltimore oriole is a North American songbird that migrates to Central and South America and is Maryland’s state bird.
Baltimore orioles breed across eastern and central North America, with some populations extending westward. After breeding, they migrate south to wintering areas ranging from Mexico and Central America to northern South America. Their diet shifts among insects, fruit, and nectar during the year.
The species is named for the orange-and-black colors associated with the Baltimore family heraldry. Adult males have striking orange underparts and black upperparts, while females and young birds are duller yellow-orange.
The Baltimore oriole is sometimes confused with the Bullock’s oriole, a western species. The two were once treated as one species, but they are now generally recognized as separate species with different breeding ranges.