By: Biol. Oscar Rodríguez Ramos
Common name: Lesser Black-backed Oriole
English name: Hooded Oriole
The Bird of the Month for February is the Lesser Black-backed Oriole, an elegant winter visitor to our botanical garden. It is also known as the Hooded Oriole and belongs to the passerine birds of the family Icteridae.
This species shows marked sexual dimorphism, meaning that males and females have very different appearances.
The male is easily recognized by its striking hood in shades ranging from orange to yellow, with a bright yellow chest and belly. Its wings, back, and tail are black, as well as a dark mask that extends to the throat. It also features two white wing bars, the upper one being thicker and more noticeable.
The female, in contrast, has more subdued coloration, with olive-green tones, a yellowish underside, and soft gray wings, back, and tail.
The Hooded Oriole is distributed from the southern United States through Central America. In the northern part of its range, it commonly nests among the fan-shaped leaves of palm trees such as Washingtonia robusta and species of the genus Sabal.
In Mexico, there are resident populations in the Yucatán Peninsula and along the Gulf of Mexico. However, the individuals we observe at the Vallarta Botanical Garden are migratory visitors that arrive during winter to escape colder northern climates.
During their stay, these birds feed on fruits, nectar, insects, and seeds, which is why they are often seen visiting the garden’s bird feeders. We invite you to stay alert— with a bit of luck, you may observe this colorful bird up close as it honors us with its winter visit each year.
We invite you to learn more about the birds that inhabit and visit the Vallarta Botanical Garden during the Bird Festival, a space to learn, observe, and celebrate the biodiversity that surrounds us.
Purchase your tickets and be part of this experience. 🎟️
By doing so, and by making a donation to the botanical garden, you are directly supporting our conservation efforts for migratory species that visit us and for the endemic species that inhabit this region.
Your support helps us continue protecting the ecosystems that make life possible. 🦜
