NEST TYPE |
Deep pouch incubator |
BUILDING SITE |
Prefer elm, maple, willow, and apple
trees but can use other trees. Placed 6 to 60 feet above ground. |
HABITAT |
Open broadleaf woods often by water,
suburban shade trees, orchards, parks, roadsides. |
OWNER |
Mr. and Mrs. Icterus galbula (BALTIMORE
ORIOLE) |
ARCHITECT/BUILDER |
Mrs. Baltimore Oriole (Mr. Oriole
may help, but his main duties are to feed the mother and defend
his territory while she is working). |
OUTSIDE DIAMETER |
Oval Entrance - 2 x 3.25 inches |
INSIDE DIAMETER |
Inside Width - 2.5 inches |
HEIGHT |
Outside Height - 3.5 - 8 inches |
DEPTH |
Inside Depth - 4.5 inches |
MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION |
Attached at rim or sides of drooping
branch often at the end for safety from predators. Elaborately
woven deep pouch of plant fiber strips (e.g., milkweed, dogbane,
bark), hair, string. Other onsite, available materials as approved
by architect, Mrs. Oriole. |
HEATING SYSTEM |
Body heat from brood spot on the
underside of female's body (patch of skin plucked bare that covers
a rich supply of blood vessels, which supplies heat to the eggs). |
INSULATION (may also conceal eggs
from predators, shed water, deter pests, and cushion) |
Fine grasses, cottony materials such
as plant down (thistle and cattail), hair, wool |
ESTIMATED ENERGY INPUT FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION
(LABOR ONLY) |
Data on food sources has not been
investigated to determine daily energy requirements. Main foods
are caterpillars, fruits, adult insects, and spiders. Nest takes
from about 4 to 15 days to complete. |
OCCUPANCY |
May and June (weather dependent) |
FREQUENCY OF USE |
1 brood per season |