Nine oriole species live somewhere in the United States, but only two of them raise their young in Maryland each year. Blackbird family members through and through, these orioles bring a jolt of color to backyards from spring through late summer, and knowing the difference between the two types of orioles in Maryland can turn a fleeting glimpse into a confident identification.
One species is impossible to miss once it settles into a shade tree. The other is quieter, rarer, and often overlooked by anyone not specifically watching for it. Below is a breakdown of both birds, including how to tell them apart, where they nest, and what to put out if you want either one visiting your feeders this season.
Baltimore Oriole
The Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) is the state bird everyone in Maryland recognizes, even people who couldn’t name another local species. It earned that title officially, as Maryland’s state symbols page notes, the Baltimore Oriole is the official Maryland bird under Chapter 54, Acts of 1947. The name itself predates the designation by centuries, coming from the black-and-orange coat of arms of Lord Baltimore, the colonial proprietor for whom the city was named.
Adult males are unmistakable. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, male Baltimore Orioles are flame orange and black with a solid black head and orange sides, while females and immature birds are brown above and burnt orange below with two white wing bars. Older females can develop a partial black hood, which occasionally confuses birders expecting a clean split between the sexes. In terms of size, the Chesapeake Bay Program reports that Baltimore orioles are between 6.5 and eight inches in length and weigh one to 1.5 ounces, making them slightly smaller than a robin…