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Published on May 23, 2023

All About Amazing Orioles 

By Laura Carberry 

May is absolutely one of my favorite times of the year. Migration is in full swing, and the flowering trees bring back the Orioles! In Rhode Island we are lucky to have two different species: the Baltimore and Orchard Orioles. Attract these sweet, colorful birds to your backyard by planting flowering trees. 

Most people are familiar with Baltimore Orioles. The males are hard to miss with their bright orange bodies, solid black head, and one white bar on their black wings. The females and immature males have a yellow-orange body color and grayish heads, with two wing bars. Female Baltimore Orioles turn more orange as they age, but do not have a dark head or back. Young males do not molt into their bright orange plumage until the fall of their second year. However, they can still successfully attract a mate before the molt. 


Laura Carberry is the Director of Properties at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island 

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