Baltimore Oriole vs American Robin
The check that settles it
Orange breast but a grey back, yellow bill, and it feeds on the ground.
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
- Size
- 17–22 cm
- Bill
- thin pointed
- Where
- woodland, yard, feeder
- Voice
- A rich series of clear whistled notes, variable between individuals, with a chattering rattle.
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
- Size
- 23–28 cm
- Bill
- thin pointed
- Where
- yard, woodland, open field
- Voice
- A rich caroling phrase often written 'cheerily, cheer up, cheer up'. Among the first birds singing before dawn.
Confirming a baltimore oriole
- Male: solid black hood and back against flame-orange underparts.
- A long, sharply pointed, silver-grey bill.
- White wing bar and white edging on the black wing.
- Female: yellow-orange below with a duller mottled back and no hood.
Confirming a american robin
- Brick-orange breast and belly against a dark grey back.
- Yellow bill — the fastest check against anything else orange-breasted.
- Broken white eye-ring.
- Runs and stops across open lawn rather than hopping continuously.