Scott's oriole
The Scott's oriole (Icterus parisorum) is a medium-sized icterid (the same family as many blackbirds, meadowlarks, cowbirds, grackles, and others, including the New World orioles). It is primarily found in the Southwestern United States and south to Baja California Sur and central Mexico. It is very common in Sacramento and south in California. The species was first scientifically described by French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1838. Bonaparte named the bird parisorum after the Paris brothers, powerful French financiers of the early 1700s. The English name was given by American soldier and naturalist Darius N. Couch in honor of General Winfield Scott, without knowing that the bird had previously been described by Bonaparte. Birder Steve Hampton has proposed calling this species the yucca oriole for its preferred habitat due to Scott's involvement in the Trail of Tears and other episodes of ethnic cleansing in the Southeastern United States. Description Measurements: Length: 9.1 in (23 cm) Weight: 1.1-1.4 oz (32-41 g) Wingspan: 12.6 in (32 cm) References Further reading Book Flood, N. J. 2002. Scott’s Oriole (Icterus parisorum). In The Birds of North America, No. 608 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. External