Black-vented Oriole, Icterus wagleri

Black-vented Oriole, Icterus wagleri. Photograph taken within a residential community in Alamos, Sonora, March 2018. Photograph and identification courtesy of David F Smith, Alamos, Sonora.

Background and Identification

The Black-vented Oriole, Icterus wagleri, is a species of bird in the family Icteridae. They are a striking species with high contrast in plumage color and very distinctive orange and black coloration. Little is known about these inconspicuous birds, but they are most likely monogamous. In Mexico, they are known as Bolsero de Wagler and Calandria de Wagler.

These orioles are medium-sized, measuring between 20 cm (7.9 inches) and 23 cm (9.1 inches) in length, with a strong, pointed bill adapted for feeding on a variety of food sources, including insects, fruits, and nectar. Adult Black-vented Orioles are primarily yellow with a black hood, back, wings, and tail. Their name comes from the black vent area, which contrasts sharply with the bright yellow of the rest of their body. Both males and females share similar plumage, although females may appear slightly duller. Males are also larger on average, weighing in at an approximate 41 g (1.45 oz), while females’ average 39 g (1.37 oz). Juvenile individuals are duller than adults, with olive-buff upperparts and faint yellow faces and upperwing coverts.

Habitat and Geographical Range

Black-vented Orioles inhabit a range of environments, including subtropical and tropical forests, open woodlands, and areas with scattered trees and shrubs. They are often found in semi-open habitats, such as forest edges, coffee plantations, and gardens.

Geographically, these birds are native to Mexico and Central America, with a range extending from central Mexico south through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Elevations inhabited by the Black-vented Oriole range from 500 m (1,640 feet) to  2,500 m (8,200 feet. They are resident birds, remaining in their range year-round.

Common Misidentifications

The Black-vented Oriole can be confused with other oriole species that share similar habitats and geographical ranges, such as the Altamira Oriole, Icterus gularis, and the Black-cowled Oriole, Icterus prosthemelas. The Altamira Oriole is larger and has a more extensive yellow-orange coloration without the black hood and vent seen in the Black-vented Oriole. The Black-cowled Oriole, while also black and yellow, lacks the black vent and has a different distribution range, primarily found in the more eastern regions of Central America. The Baltimore Oriole of the United States and Canada rarely inhabits geographical areas as far south as Mexico and has much more orange-colored plumage.

Conservation Status

From a conservation perspective the Black-vented Oriole is currently considered to be of Least Concern, with stable, widely distributed populations.