Baltimore Oriole, close
Icterus galbula
Baltimore Oriole · Prospect Park · 23 May 2026
A Baltimore Oriole close up in Prospect Park in May, black hood over deep orange, just back from Central America to breed in the park's tall trees. Orioles are birds of open woodland and shade trees across the East, and they nest at the tips of high outer branches.
Orioles were named by the colonists after the golden oriole of Europe, which they resemble, but the two are not related at all: the American orioles are blackbirds, kin to grackles and meadowlarks, and the resemblance is coincidence. The orange is diet - carotenoids from fruit and insects - and a bird fed on the wrong things in captivity fades to yellow.
Birds, insects, plants and other wildlife, mostly from Brooklyn, with some from further afield.
Every photograph comes with notes on what it is.
Selected
Favourite shots. Filter by subject, or .
Places
Everything, by where it was taken.
Species
Larger catalogue of photos organized by species of animal or plant.
Catalogue
Every photograph, newest first. Narrow it by period, place or species; the three work together.
Updates
Coming soon. Sign up at the bottom of the page for updates.