From vivid and forceful to rusty or rufous, orange may be found in a variety of hues in nature. Every part of the United States has a variety of orange birds. To learn more about the orange colored birds’ habitat, location, and behavior, continue reading.
15 TYPES OF ORANGE BIRDS
In the United States, there are 15 distinct breeds of orange birds.
1. AMERICAN WOODCOCK
Scientific name: Scolopax minor
In the woods of the eastern United States, look for this ground-dwelling shorebird. It has mottled brown, gray, and black on its back to blend in with the forest floor. Its chest and sides are a dusky rusty-orange color.
This bird is common near waterways and young woods, but you’re unlikely to see it at your feeder. In the springtime, keep an eye out after dark. A performance known as a “sky dance” may even include a male display.
2. BALTIMORE ORIOLE
Scientific name: Icterus galbula
Throughout the spring and summer, the Baltimore Oriole can be found in the East and Midwest. The orange feathers of males are vivid, and they have a black head and back. Their vibrant hues distinguish them from the green foliage that they forage through while hunting for insects on the tree tops.
During their spring migration, try luring them to your yard with new fruit, such as oranges.
3. FLAME-COLORED TANAGER
Scientific name: Piranga bidentata
The bright orange body and gray wings of the male Flame-colored Tanager give the species its name. The face of females is orange, while the rest of the body is yellow. This species is primarily found in Mexico and Central America, although it may be seen in Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas on occasion.
With freshly cut fruit, particularly oranges, this tanager may be lured into a backyard.
4. ORCHARD ORIOLE
Scientific name: Icteris spurius
The orange feathers on this songbird’s chest, belly, and tail are situated there. The female’s feathers are yellow-green and gray, while the male is orange. Their orange hue is a deeper, more rust-colored hue than that of other orioles.
Throughout the summer, look for the Orchard Oriole in the East and Midwest. Over visiting feeders, they rather seek out insects in the woods.
5. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
Scientific name: Sitta canadensis
With its gray back and orange belly, the Red-breasted Nuthatch looks a lot like a Robin, although it is significantly smaller and shaped differently. This insect-hunting tree-dwelling songbird lives in the branches and leaves. These are the only birds that climb headfirst down trees, making them quite different from other songbirds.
On the nuthatch’s breast and belly, look for orange feathers. They are also distinguished by their black and white striped head. Canada and portions of the western United States are home to them. All year, and then spread to the rest of the country. During the winter, it is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
6. CAROLINA WREN
Scientific name: Thryothorus ludovicianus
In the woods of the eastern United States, Carolina Wrens are a common sight. They pluck insects from the ground in thickets and on lawns, and are very loud and easy to see. Their back, forehead, and breast and belly are all chestnut brown. They have a bright orange beak.
Offer suet to these birds throughout the winter. Nest boxes or potted plants placed in serene parts of the garden are also favorite hiding places.
7. VARIED THRUSH
Scientific name: Ixoreus naevius
The Varied Thrush and the Robin are both members of the thrush family, so if you think they look similar, it may not surprise you. The throat, belly, eyebrow, and wingbars of the Varied Thrush contrast with its gray head and back to create a warm orange tone.
Alaska, Western Canada, and sections of Idaho and Montana are all good places to look in the summer. In the winter, they go south along the Pacific coast. They thrive in thick woodlands and consume insects found among leaf debris.
8. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
Scientific name: Selasphorus rufus
The feisty Rufous Hummingbirds are bright orange birds. Both sexes are bold and unafraid of competing for access to flowers and feeders with bigger hummingbirds. They range all the way up to the southernmost tip of Alaska, breeding farthest north of any hummingbird species.
Adult males are practically entirely orange with a white breast and green speckling on their back. Females are pale with buffy sides. They head back to Mexico’s western coast in the autumn.
9. BARN SWALLOW
Scientific name: Hirundo rustica
The Barn Swallow is well-adapted to human-made structures, with a dynamic mix of royal blue and rich orange-brown. Along the eaves of barns, buildings, and bridges, they construct their nests of mud and grass.
The majority of the United States is home to these common swallows. Winter is spent south of the border, followed by a summer in Canada. They’re acrobatic flyers that swoop down from the sky and capture insects.
10. AMERICAN REDSTART
Scientific name: Setophaga ruticilla
The warbler family includes the American Redstart. Bright orange patches on the wings, tail, and breast are only seen on males. They range from the northwest to northeast, and southeast in a swath of terrain during the spring and summer. While they travel through the midwest and west in the spring and fall, many states may see them.
Plant summer-fruiting berry vines to attract them to your yard.
11. BULLOCK’S ORIOLE
Scientific name: Icterus bullockii
Bullock’s Oriole breeds in the western United States throughout the summer. Bright orange bodies, black and white wings and tails, and fruit-eating songbirds.
In the spring, you may observe a Bullock’s Oriole’s carefully woven hanging nest. These birds are known to visit hummingbird feeders and stop by yards for sugar water.
12. EASTERN TOWHEE
Scientific name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus
The distinctive call of the Eastern Towhee, which is known as the “chewink” or “tow-hee,” is difficult to forget once you’ve heard it. The eastern United States are home to this bird. It only spends the spring and summer in states north of the Mason-Dixon line, despite spending year-round in the southern United States.
The Spotted Towhee, which appears to be very similar, may be seen if you live in the west.
On the sides of their bellies, males and femen have rusty orange feathers. Females have a deeper brown coloration than males do.
13. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK
Scientific name: Pheucticus melanocephalus
This grosbeak, which may be found across the west coast, including in the Rocky Mountains and Southwest, is another western songbird. The black and orange patches are easily distinguished in males. The nape and chest of females are more speckled, and they have dusky orange feathers.
They’re also attracted to sugar water in hummingbird feeders, which can be enticing them to yards with sunflower seeds.
14. ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD
Scientific name: Selasphorus ssin
The Allen’s Hummingbird rules its narrow strip of land along the Pacific Coast during the spring and summer months. The adult males of this species are bright orange, much like their rufous cousins.
Hummingbirds are attracted to nectar-producing flowers or hummingbird feeders in backyards. Long before other hummingbird species, they arrive at the shore in January.
15. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER
Scientific name: Setophaga fusca
In the woodlands of New England and the Midwest, Blackburnian Warblers are a gorgeous sight to behold. Insects are hunted for along the branches and leaves of trees by these spring and summer migrants.
Males are more colorful than females, who are yellow and gray. Males have a bright orange throat and face stripes, with a dark gray and white back.
If you have tall trees and install a bird bath or a moving water feature, they might visit your yard, but they don’t eat seeds.
Hooded Oriole
The Hooded Oriole, also known as the Icterus cucullatus, belongs to the Icteridae family of passerine birds. It is a common sight in open woodlands, gardens, and parks throughout the southwestern United States and Mexico. The bright orange-yellow head, breast, and rump of the Hooded Oriole, as well as its black wings and tail, distinguish it. The female has a similar appearance to the male, but is duller in color. The exquisite, musical tunes of the Hooded Orioles are heard and used to communicate with one another as well as defend their land. They eat a wide range of insects, fruit, and nectar and are omnivorous.
Red-winged Blackbird
The Red-winged Blackbird, also known as the Agelaius phoeniceus, is a small passerine bird belonging to the Icteridae family. It’s one of the most frequent and ubiquitous blackbirds in the United States, and it’s native to North and Central America. The glossy black plumage of the male Red-winged Blackbird, as well as its bright red and yellow wing patches, are easily visible when it sings or defends its territory. Brown with a speckled breast and a pale eye circle, the female is brown. The loud, melodic songs of red-winged blackbirds are used to communicate with others and defend their area. They eat a variety of insects, seeds, and fruit and are omnivorous.
Altamira Oriole
The Icteridae family includes the Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis), a medium-sized passerine. It may be found in a range of environments, from woods to woodlands to gardens, and is native to Mexico and Central America. The bright orange-yellow head, breast, and rump, as well as the black wings and tail of the Altamira Oriole, are easily recognizable. The female has a similar appearance, but is duller in color. The lovely, melody melodies of the Altamira Orioles have made them renowned throughout their community for communicating and defending their area. They eat a wide range of insects, fruits, and nectar and are omnivorous.
Spot-breasted Oriole
The Icteridae family includes the Spot-breasted Oriole (Icterus pectoralis), a medium-sized passerine bird. It may be found in a range of environments, including forests, woodlands, and gardens, and is native to Central and South America. The bright orange-yellow head, breast, and rump of the Spot-breasted Oriole, as well as its black wings and tail, distinguish it easily. The male has a prominent white patch on its breast, whereas the female is similar but less vibrant in color. The beautiful, lyrical songs of spot-breasted Orioles are well-known for their uses to communicate with each other and defend their territory. They eat insects, fruit, and nectar and are omnivorous.
Streak-backed Oriole
The Streak-backed Oriole, also known as the Icterus pustulatus, is a little passerine bird that belongs to the Icteridae family. It may be found in a range of environments, such as forests, woodlands, and gardens, and is native to Central and South America. The bright orange-yellow head, breast, and rump, as well as the black wings and tail, distinguish the Streak-backed Oriole. The male has a streaked back and a bright white breast, whereas the female looks similar but is somewhat less bright in color. The lovely, rhythmic melodies that streak-backed Orioles use to speak with one other and protect their land have made them renowned. They eat a range of insects, fruit, and nectar and are omnivores.
American Redstart
The Setophaga ruticilla, or American Redstart, is a small migratory songbird belonging to the Parulidae family. It can be found in a variety of environments, including woods, woodlands, and gardens, and is native to North America. The bright orange breast, wings, and tail of the male American Redstart, as well as its black head and back are easily recognized. The female has a streaked throat and a gray body with a slight orange breast. She is comparable in appearance. The beautiful, melodic melodies that American Redstarts produce to communicate with one other and defend their territory have made them famous. They eat flies, beetles, and moths, among other insects, and are insectivorous.
Blackburnian Warbler
The Setophaga fusca, also known as the Blackburnian Warbler, is a little migratory songbird. It may be found in a range of environments, including coniferous forests and deciduous woodlands, as well as North America. The bright orange breast and throat of the male Blackburnian Warbler, as well as its black head, back, and wings, distinguish it. The female is browner in color and has a feeble orange breast, but she looks similar. The lovely, musical songs of Blackburnian Warblers are used to communicate with one another and defend their area. They eat flies, beetles, and moths, among other things, and are insectivorous.
American Robin
The Turdidae family includes the American Robin (Turdus migratorius), a medium-sized thrush. It’s one of the most well-known and popular birds in the United States, and it’s native to North America. The reddish-orange breast, gray back, and wings, as well as the white belly of the American Robin, are all easily visible. Both sexes have a similar appearance. The cheery, musical tunes played by American Robins are well-known for communicating with one another and defending their area. They eat a wide range of insects, worms, fruit, and berries and are omnivorous. The habit of digging worms out of the earth with their powerful beaks is a common sight for American Robins on lawns and gardens.
Brambling
The Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla), a Fringillidae family member, is a medium-sized finch. It is a migratory species that breeds in the north and winters in the south. It is native to Europe and Asia. The orange-brown breast and black head, wings, and tail of the Brambling are instantly identifiable. The male has a prominent white wing patch, while the female is more comparable in look but has a browner color. Bramblings use their lovely, musical melodies to communicate with each other and defend their territory. They eat seeds, fruit, and insects and are omnivorous. Bramblings, sometimes known as “flockers,” are frequently seen in gardens, parks, and forests.
Western Tanager
The Cardinalidae family includes the Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), a medium-sized passerine bird. It may be found in forests, woodlands, and gardens throughout the western United States and Mexico. The blaze orange-red breast, yellow head, and black wings and tail of the male Western Tanager are unmistakable. The female has a streaked breast and a faint eye ring, and she is comparable in appearance to the male. The exquisite, lyrical songs that Western Tanagers sing to communicate with each other and defend their territory have made them famous. They’re omnivorous and feed on insects, fruit, and nectar. The bold and colorful appearance of Western Tanagers makes them popular in gardens and parks.
Scarlet Tanager
The Cardinalidae family includes the Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea), a medium-sized passerine bird. It may be found in a range of environments, including woods, woodlands, and gardens, and is native to the eastern United States and Canada. The bright scarlet plumage of the male Scarlet Tanager, as well as its black wings and tail, are instantly identifiable. The female is yellow-green with a striped breast and a faint eye ring, and she looks similar to the male. Scarlet Tanagers are well-known for their musical, melodious songs, which they use to communicate and defend their territory. They eat a range of insects, fruit, and nectar and are omnivorous. Garden and park visitors may frequently see Scarlet Tanagers, who are well-known for their vibrant and bright looks.
Western Spindalis
The little passerine bird Western Spindalis (Spindalis zena) belongs to the Thraupidae family. It may be found in a range of environments, including woods, woodlands, and gardens, and is native to the West Indies as well as Central and South America. The colorful plumage of the Western Spindalis, which varies depending on the subspecies, is easily recognized. Some subspecies have a black head and back, with a white breast and reddish rump, while others have a black head and back, with a white breast. Beautiful, lyrical songs are used by Western Spindalises to communicate and defend their territory. They eat a range of insects, fruit, and nectar and are omnivorous. Gardeners and parks across Western Spindalises are known for their bold and bright appearance.