Orchard Oriole
(Icterus spurius)

Summary

Picture of bird
© Ann Cook
For additional photos and vocalizations, visit Dendroica. (Link opens in a new window.)

Breeding populations of Orchard Oriole in Canada are peripheral to the North American range reaching Canada only in the southernmost edge of Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Results of the Breeding Bird Survey suggest this species has shown a large increase in population since about 1970.

Designations

Listing of the main designations for the species
DesignationStatusDateSubspecies, population
IUCN (Global)Least Concern2012 
Wild Species (Canada)Secure2010 

Population status

Geographic areaStatusReliability
CanadaLarge IncreaseHigh
 

Population estimate

Canada50,000 to 500,000 adults
 

Distribution maps

 

Migration strategy, occurrence

Long-distance migrant

Responsibility for conservation of world population

CanadaVery Low

Conservation and management

Although the Orchard Oriole has shown decreases in parts of its range in the United States, it appears to be increasing in abundance and expanding its range in Canada. Threats to this species appear to be few in Canada but future expansions may be limited by the general decline of orchards and hedgerows, pesticide use and closing of forest canopies as woodlands mature (Woodliffe 2007, Scharf and Kren 2010).

 

Bird conservation region strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:

  • conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
  • stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
  • management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
  • other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

BCRs, marine biogeographic units, and sub-regions in which the species is listed as a priority
RegionSub-region and priority type
NoneNone
 

References