What family are New World orioles in?
Q: What family are New World orioles in?
A: New World orioles are in the blackbird family.
Q: How do New World orioles compare to Old World orioles?
A: Icterid species of New World orioles are strikingly similar in size, diet, behaviour, and plumage to Old World orioles. This is an example of convergent evolution.
Q: What does the male plumage of a New World Oriole look like?
A: Male New World Orioles typically have black and vibrant yellow or orange plumage with white markings. Females and immature birds have duller plumage.
Q: What type of food do they eat?
A: They mainly eat insects but also enjoy nectar and fruit.
Q: What type of nest do they build?
A: They build a woven, elongated pouch as their nest.
Q: Are all species migratory?
A: Species nesting in areas with cold winters are strongly migratory while subtropical and tropical species tend to be more sedentary (do not migrate).
Q: Where did the name "oriole" come from?
A:The name "oriole" was first recorded by Albertus Magnus in about 1250 and he stated it was onomatopoeic from the song of the European golden oriole.
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