A Hooded Oriole has spent the last several weeks in Gaston, OR. This species normally ranges as far north as northern California, wintering in Mexico, so a winter visitor to Oregon is a special treat.
This grainy photo shows the bird’s thin bluish bill, facial pattern, and white tips of the tail feathers.
Much of the bird is hidden by blackberries in this shot, but we can see the scaly pattern on the bird’s upper back.
While I certainly appreciated seeing this species in Oregon, I still prefer to see birds in their natural range and habitat. I saw my first Hooded Orioles in southern Texas. They seemed to belong there, and finding birds not normally found in Oregon adds to the fun of traveling. Likewise, my first Varied Thrush was in a suburban yard in Ohio. They look so much better in Oregon.
Ethical Birder 