Altamira Oriole

 The Altamira Oriole is a bird of Mexico and Central America whose range just reaches into southern Texas. The largest oriole occurring in the United States, it makes the longest nest of any North American bird: its woven basket-like nest can reach 65 cm (25.5 in) in length.

 Cool Facts
The Altamira Oriole has been observed foraging for dead grasshoppers on the fronts of cars.
The Altamira Oriole is a solitary nester, with an average of a quarter kilometer (800 ft) between nests. Despite this wide spacing, it is not known to be territorial, and almost no aggression has been observed during the breeding season.

Semi-arid areas with scattered trees, open riparian woodland, open areas within more humid environments.

 Nesting
Nesting Facts

Clutch Size
2–6 eggs
Egg Description
Pale bluish white with irregular black and purple spots and splotches.
Condition at Hatching
Helpless.

 Nest Description

A long (30-65 cm; 12-25.5 in), hanging pouch woven of fibers and thin roots of epiphytes, suspended in the fork of a branch in a tall tree or hung from telephone wires.

Credits
Pleasants, B. Y. 1993. Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis). In The Birds of North America, No. 56 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists' Union.