[birdky] Oriole Fight

While enjoying the beautiful weather during a lunch break this week at my work in Buckner (Oldham Co.). I listened to a Catbird sing through its repertoire. Suddenly it seemed to be singing a duet, and before I could look, a trio, then a quartet, and a quintet! I looked up to see that the Catbird had been joined in quick succession by a pair of Eastern Kingbirds, then an Orchard Oriole, and lastly a Baltimore Oriole.

I guess the company was too much for the Catbird, who flew from the small tree to a neighboring larger one. The pair of kingbirds departed immediately in another direction, singing as they went. But the orioles remained in the tree, each singing his song. It wasn?t long, however, before the Baltimore O. had had enough. It attacked the Orchard O. beak and claws bared. After a brief tussle the smaller Orchard O. retreated to another nearby large tree, and the Baltimore resumed singing, victoriously.

Today, as I walked outside for my lunch break I found the Baltimore O. flying from one parked vehicle to another challenging its reflection in each mirror. After a few moments, the Orchard O. begin singing in a nearby tree, a different one than any I saw it in yesterday. Without hesitation the Baltimore quickly flew to an adjoining tree to sing its own song. They continued singing for a few minutes, but remained apart, until the Baltimore flew elsewhere. They have settled apparently the territorial issue, at least, for the time being.

I have never seen these two species of orioles together, let alone fighting. Is this competition common or unusual?

Jim Seelhorst
Louisville via work in Oldham Co.


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