Birding/Odd Scott's Oriole

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Expert: - 4/18/2010


Question

Odd Scott's Oriole
OK, folks - I need a little help with this one. We have 10 or 12 Scott's orioles showing up at the feeders.
I have photographed some of them, but this morning I noticed that one of them has a brown or red face. I have checked all of our bird books and cannot find any photos or written information on this coloration.  Please let me know if you know.

Answer
I can't tell for certain, but as you may know, orioles stick their heads into fruit and open their beaks to get the fruit juices or fibers. I don't know what kind of fruit, or perhaps a juicy flower, he got into, but I suspect that is the case. Could be pollen, but that seems less likely.

Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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