Altamira Oriole
Icterus gularis
We once knew the Altamira Oriole as the Lichtenstein’s Oriole. Though widespread on the Mexican Gulf Coast and northern Central America, these large orioles have recently (since 1939) established territory in southern Texas. Today, south Texas is to only location north of the border with Mexico where we find them.
Though their appearance is like the smaller Hooded Oriole, DNA analysis has shown the two are not closely related. No other oriole is larger than this bird, and they do not migrate, so where we find them, they stay all year. Unlike most of their oriole relatives, male and female birds look the same.
We believe the female builds the nest. They are huge elongated woven affairs that are over two feet long. Sometimes they will build a nest, but not use it. Instead, they find another site and build again.
Science recognises six subspecies of Altamira Oriole:
- I. g. tamaulipensis lives in south Texas eastern Mexico.
- I. g. yucatanensis lives in Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel, and Belize.
- I. g. flavescens lives on the coast of Guerrero (Mexico).
- I. g. gularis lives in southern Mexico and northern Central America.
- I. g. troglodytes lives on the Pacific coast of southern Mexico and northwestern Central America.
- I. g. gigas lives in Central America.
I met my first Altamira Orioles in the spring of 2020 at Laguna Atascosa NWR (Texas). But it was in Mission Texas at Bentsen Rio Grande State Park and the nearby National Butterfly Center in 2021, that I had my best encounters with these orioles.
21 Photos
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
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Description: I made an impromptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday as I was headed from Corpus Christi to Brownsville Texas. I spent the afternoon meeting birds, including my ‘first encounter’ with this oriole. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 12:12 |
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Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 310 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D506216-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: I made an impromptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday as I was headed from Corpus Christi to Brownsville Texas. I spent the afternoon meeting birds, including my ‘first encounter’ with this oriole. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 12:12 |
|
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 310 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D506217-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: I made an impromptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday as I was headed from Corpus Christi to Brownsville Texas. I spent the afternoon meeting birds, including my ‘first encounter’ with this oriole. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 16:01 |
|
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D507206-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: I made an impromptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday as I was headed from Corpus Christi to Brownsville Texas. I spent the afternoon meeting birds, including my ‘first encounter’ with this oriole. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 16:02 |
|
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D507235-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: I made an impromptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday as I was headed from Corpus Christi to Brownsville Texas. I spent the afternoon meeting birds, including my ‘first encounter’ with this oriole. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 16:05 |
|
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/6400 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D507242-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: I made an impromptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday as I was headed from Corpus Christi to Brownsville Texas. I spent the afternoon meeting birds, including my ‘first encounter’ with this oriole. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 16:05 |
|
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/6400 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D507249-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: Frigid weather seemed to bring unexpected birds, such as these orioles, to the seed feeders at Bentsen RGV SP. The mercury rose to 30°F this morning from 22°F yesterday in south Texas. I had camped only a mile-and-a-half from Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, so despite the cold, I ventured out for a couple of hours, until my hands began complaining of the low temperature. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:16 10:45 |
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Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X1945-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: I lingered with the Altamira Orioles here, getting better acquainted with the species. I returned to Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park Friday, three days after my first brief visit last Tuesday, when cold weather had a firm grip on most live forms. With my repaired bicycle under me, I explored all the paths the park would allow and spent a lovely day capturing wildlife images. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:19 11:15 |
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Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X3058-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: I lingered with the Altamira Orioles here, getting better acquainted with the species. I returned to Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park Friday, three days after my first brief visit last Tuesday, when cold weather had a firm grip on most live forms. With my repaired bicycle under me, I explored all the paths the park would allow and spent a lovely day capturing wildlife images. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:19 11:26 |
|
Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X3162-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: I lingered with the Altamira Orioles here, getting better acquainted with the species. I returned to Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park Friday, three days after my first brief visit last Tuesday, when cold weather had a firm grip on most live forms. With my repaired bicycle under me, I explored all the paths the park would allow and spent a lovely day capturing wildlife images. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:19 14:10 |
|
Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X3825-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: I lingered with the Altamira Orioles here, getting better acquainted with the species. I returned to Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park Friday, three days after my first brief visit last Tuesday, when cold weather had a firm grip on most live forms. With my repaired bicycle under me, I explored all the paths the park would allow and spent a lovely day capturing wildlife images. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:19 14:09 |
|
Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X3779-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: Altamira Orioles were weaving a nest overhead from our observation circle. As part of The Great Texas Birding Classic, The National Butterfly Center held a “Big Sit” event on Sunday. They invited me to join the team, and in between shifts, I walked the grounds in search of photo opportunities. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:25 19:16 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X2035-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: Altamira Orioles were weaving a nest overhead from our observation circle. As part of The Great Texas Birding Classic, The National Butterfly Center held a “Big Sit” event on Sunday. They invited me to join the team, and in between shifts, I walked the grounds in search of photo opportunities. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:25 8:30 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X1300-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: I watched this nest at its earliest stages of construction. Because of the Big Freeze last February, this tree did not leaf out, and the birds abandoned this nest and built elsewhere. Before leaving the Lower Rio Grande Valley and travelling west, I stopped at the National Butterfly Center in Mission to see friends there. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:09 18:46 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: AltamiraOrioleNest_D5X8043_NationalButterflyCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: These resident orioles appreciated the food offerings the staff provided. For my last expedition while camped in Palmview (Texas), I drove two miles to explore the National Butterfly Center near Mission. I found it was a lovely place to meet birds and some like-minded nature lovers. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:25 12:35 |
|
Location:
National Butterfly Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X6124-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: These resident orioles appreciated the food offerings the staff provided. For my last expedition while camped in Palmview (Texas), I drove two miles to explore the National Butterfly Center near Mission. I found it was a lovely place to meet birds and some like-minded nature lovers. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:25 12:34 |
|
Location:
National Butterfly Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X6108-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: These resident orioles appreciated the food offerings the staff provided. For my last expedition while camped in Palmview (Texas), I drove two miles to explore the National Butterfly Center near Mission. I found it was a lovely place to meet birds and some like-minded nature lovers. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:25 12:05 |
|
Location:
National Butterfly Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X5717-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: These resident orioles appreciated the food offerings the staff provided. For my last expedition while camped in Palmview (Texas), I drove two miles to explore the National Butterfly Center near Mission. I found it was a lovely place to meet birds and some like-minded nature lovers. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:25 12:06 |
|
Location:
National Butterfly Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X5722-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: These resident orioles appreciated the food offerings the staff provided. For my last expedition while camped in Palmview (Texas), I drove two miles to explore the National Butterfly Center near Mission. I found it was a lovely place to meet birds and some like-minded nature lovers. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:25 12:36 |
|
Location:
National Butterfly Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X6176-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: Altamira Orioles nest at the National Butterfly Center, and their whistled calls rang out from the trees on the property. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:24 18:42 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_8506185-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Altamira Oriole(Icterus gularis) |
|
Description: Frigid weather seemed to bring unexpected birds, such as these orioles, to the seed feeders at Bentsen RGV SP. The mercury rose to 30°F this morning from 22°F yesterday in south Texas. I had camped only a mile-and-a-half from Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, so despite the cold, I ventured out for a couple of hours, until my hands began complaining of the low temperature. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:16 10:45 |
|
Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AltamiraOriole_D5X1948-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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