Birdr
  • Today
  • Life List
  • Community
Sign in
  • Today
  • Life List
  • Map
  • Trip Planner
  • Community
  • Field Guide
  • Skills
  • Gear Guides
  • Merch
Sign in
Made for birdrs, by birdrs  ·  Birdr ·  v0.1
Field GuideBlogAboutGear GuidesTrip PlannerCommunityBirdr ProPrivacy PolicyTermsSupport
Back to Field Guide

Black-cowled Oriole

Icterus prosthemelas

Migration Flyway

Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species

Last Spotted Near You

View on eBirdWikipedia

About the Black-cowled Oriole

The black-cowled oriole (Icterus prosthemelas) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae. It is common and widespread in the Caribbean lowlands and foothills from southern Mexico to western Panama. It lives primarily in humid or semihumid forest, as well as in clearings, along forest edges, in plantations, in semi-open areas with scattered trees and bushes, and in gardens. The adult male is black, with yellow on the belly, shoulder, rump, wing lining, and crissum. The female's plumage varies depending on location. In the south of its range, it is similar to that of the male.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name
Icterus prosthemelas
Family
Troupials and Allies
Order
Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the troupials and allies family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

  • Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis
  • Audubon's Oriole Icterus graduacauda
  • Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
  • Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus
  • Black-backed Oriole Icterus abeillei
  • Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri
  • Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major
  • Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
  • Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
  • Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus
  • Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
  • Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii

Know when the Black-cowled Oriole turns up near you

Add it to your watchlist and draw an alert zone around the places you actually bird. Birdr checks eBird reports and tells you when one is seen inside it.

How rare bird alerts work →

Gear for spotting Black-cowled Oriole

Optics

Best Binoculars for Beginners

You don't need to spend a fortune. These four pairs will get you birding confidently on day one.

8 min readRead guide
Cameras

Cameras for Bird Photography

From phone adapters to dedicated rigs, here's what actually works for capturing birds in the field.

12 min readRead guide
Optics

Spotting Scopes for Distance Birding

Essential for shorebirds, raptors, and anything too far for binoculars. Our tested picks.

9 min readRead guide