Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Orchard Oriole
Scientific name:	Icterus spurius
Date:	20 May 2026
Time:	0730
Length of time observed:	10 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	First Year?
Sex:	Male?
Location:	Red Cliffs Recreation Area Campground
County:	Washington
Latilong:	37.22446 -113.40587
Elevation:	~3,200ft
Distance to bird:	50 feet
Optical equipment:	Nikon D5600 DSLR with Sigma S1 150-600mm lens
Weather:	Sunny
Light Conditions:	Full sun
Description: Size of bird:	Small oriole
(Description:) Basic Shape:	classic icterus
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Yellow body, black mask and throat
(Description:) Bill Type:	long, minimally decurved
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	While birding the campground, Ernie and I heard a bird calling that we did not recognize. The bird would have a single-note vocalization, three-note, four-note, or rapid 'kingbirdy' trill call. We use a powered, directional microphone (Comica VM20) to capture recordings and run Merlin when necessary. At the time the bird was roughly 200 feet away, but Merlin could not / would not identify the bird. We tracked the bird down and found it perched in the top of a tree along the riparian area and saw it was an oriole. Despite being point-blank, Merlin still had no idea what the bird was. Once I saw it, I initially pegged the bird as a hooded oriole, showing yellow everywhere visible (body, UTCs, tail), and a black "mask" / loral area, and throat. As we watched it, I noted the bill did not look decurved enough to be a hooded oriole. I got a few photos and the bird took off. Upon returning home I researched calls of other orioles as well as posted the photos to the ABA What's This Bird? Facebook Group to get others' opinions and expertise. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	One, three, or four-note calls, or rapid trills (Tape)
Behavior:	Perched atop a tree, preferred to stay along riparian
Habitat:	Desert landscape with creek flowing out of red rock canyon. Large cottonwoods and willows lining the riparian. Located just above a farming community / Quail Creek SP
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Hooded oriole Notoriously one of the hardest distinctions to make amongst first-year male orioles. Hooded would have more curvature in the bill. Hooded also would have a longer bill than this. Bill color - Orchards tend to have the entire, or nearly so, mandible silver, where hooded would have more extensive black on the tip of the mandible. Overall structure of the bird - hooded oriole would be longer and thinner. Tail length - Hooded would have a longer tail. Hooded would also have a more severely graduated tail. Voice also supports OROR. Bullock's - No black eyeline Streak-backed - Too yellow for any age Altamira - Bill is not stout enough
Previous experience with this & similar species:	None
References consulted:	Sibley, eBird, Birds of the World, Facebook ABA Group - Mark S. provided great insight on ID tips and tricks - stating he lives where Orchard, Hooded, Bullock's and Streak-backed of all ages and plumages visit his yard daily in the winter. Several other people supported an OROR ID and none had other ID suggestions.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Patrick McAtee
Observer's address:	Address: 247 S 360 W
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	24 May 2026
Additional material:	Photos, Tape
Additional comments: