Seeing a flash of orange in the trees or bushes usually means you’ve spotted one of the many birds species with orange heads. While orange plumage can signify a species or sex it often indicates a bird in breeding condition. During breeding seasons usually spring or summer, many birds develop more vivid orange coloring on their heads, chests, or tails to attract mates.
Spotting these birds takes sharp eyes and quick reflexes. Often shy birds that inhabit forests and woodlands, those with orange heads use their vivid colors for mating displays but remain hidden the rest of the time. Getting a glimpse in nature provides an exciting reward for patient birders.
Understanding where, when, and how these birds display their orange colors helps you locate them. Here are 32 birds with orange heads worth spotting and how to find them:
1. Western Tanager
The male Western Tanager sports a bright orange-red head, yellow body, and black wings. Females have red faces but lack the male’s vibrant orange head. Western Tanagers breed in western North American coniferous forests. Spot them during migration in spring and fall across the western and eastern U.S.
2. Hooded Oriole
Bold orange heads distinguish male Hooded Orioles, contrasting sharply with black throats and backs. Females lack the orange and black but show olive and grey plumage instead. Search for these striking birds in spring and summer in palm trees and dry forests of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico.
3. Bullock’s Oriole
Bullock’s Orioles display more muted orange heads than Hooded Orioles. Males also show black crowns and orange-streaked black bodies. Females appear mostly yellow and grey. Find this species along waterways in open woods of western North America in spring and summer.
4. Rufous Hummingbird
Though females may show some orange feathers, male Rufous Hummingbirds sport bright orange heads and rusty crowns during breeding season. They nest in northwestern North American forests but migrate south and east for winter. Watch for them along their migration routes in spring and fall.
5. Scarlet Tanager
Vibrant orange-red heads distinguish male Scarlet Tanagers, contrasting with black wings and tails. Females and juveniles look more yellow. Scarlet Tanagers breed in eastern U.S. and Canadian forests and migrate to South America for winter. Spot them during migration along the U.S. East Coast and Southeast.
6. Red Crossbill
Male Red Crossbills display rusty orange heads, breasts, and bellies year-round. They live across North America and sometimes migrate south in winter. Search for these finches in coniferous forests year-round or scan mixed flocks during migration.
7. Flame-colored Tanager
Male Flame-colored Tanagers show flame orange heads, throats, and chests, while females appear yellow. Though native to Mexico and Central America, they sometimes visit the U.S. Southwest. Watch for them in spring and summer in open woodlands of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
8. Altamira Oriole
The bright orange heads of male Altamira Orioles contrast with black faces and wings. Females look more yellow. Altamira Orioles live in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas year-round but remain local and rare in the U.S. Attract them to your yard with fruit feeders.
9. Northern Oriole
Northern Orioles display bright reddish-orange heads and black and white plumage. Females look paler. Though they nest in the eastern half of the U.S. and southern Canada, spot them on migration across broader areas of North America in spring and fall.
10. Spot-breasted Oriole
Male Spot-breasted Orioles show striking orange heads, throats, chests, and bellies, plus black wings. Females appear mostly olive-yellow. Though rare, Spot-breasted Orioles sometimes visit the southernmost U.S. from Mexico. Watch for them in South Texas and southern Florida.
11. Eurasian Wigeon
Male Eurasian Wigeons develop reddish-orange heads and yellow eye patches during breeding season. Females look plain grey-brown year-round. Eurasian Wigeons inhabit wetlands across Europe and Asia but sometimes visit North America too. Scan flocks carefully during spring and summer.
12. Ruddy Shelduck
Dramatic orange heads, chests, bellies, and wings distinguish male Ruddy Shelducks, especially in breeding condition. Females look plainer with orange wings but a white head and neck. Watch for these waterfowl in Europe and Asia in spring and summer as they nest near lakes and ponds.
13. Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Perhaps the most vibrantly orange-headed bird in the world, males show flaming orange heads, necks, breasts and crests contrasting with black bodies. Females appear all brown. Find these exotic birds in cloud forests of South America’s Andes, perched prominently on boulders and tree branches.
14. Orange-headed Thrush
As the name suggests, male Orange-headed Thrushes display bright orange heads, especially during breeding season. Females retain a plain brown head year-round. Both sexes appear grey-bodied. Search for these birds in the understories of humid Asian forests.
15. Orange-backed Troupial
The aptly named Orange-backed Troupial sports a bright orange head, back, belly, and tail in both males and females. Black wings and white wing patches provide contrast. Search for these gregarious birds feeding on fruits in canopy and edges of rainforests from Mexico to Argentina.
16. Yellow-headed Blackbird
Male Yellow-headed Blackbirds feature stunning orange heads and chests contrasting with black plumage. Females show more muted yellow-orange heads and striped brown bodies. Scan marshlands, wet fields, and prairies of western North America for large flocks.
17. Red-crested Cardinal
Against jet black plumage, male Red-crested Cardinals show flaming orange crests, faces, bills, and thighs. Females appear paler with orange-tinted wings and tails. Though native to South America, escaped birds sometimes appear in the southern U.S. where they frequent backyard feeders.
18. Guianan Cock-of-the-rock
Vibrant orange heads, necks, shoulders, and crests help male Guianan Cock-of-the-rocks stand out against jet black plumage. Females look brown. Find these exotic rainforest birds in northern South America, often displaying prominently from boulders and branches.
19. Hoopoe
Both male and female Hoopoes display dramatic orange Mohawks raised or lowered depending on mood. Otherwise appearing brown, black, and white, these exotic birds expand their range across temperate Eurasia and Africa while migrating and dispersing.
20. Pileated Woodpecker
The male Pileated Woodpecker shows a bold red crest and cheek stripe across otherwise black-and-white plumage. Female crests look slightly duller orange. These crow-sized woodpeckers live year-round across much of North America’s forests, readily recognizable by their orange heads.
21. Northern Red Bishop
Male Northern Red Bishops turn orange-headed at breeding season, also sporting black faces and bibs. Otherwise, they appear brown and black. Females look plain brown year-round. Look for these finches in moist grasslands across Africa, mixed into flocks of other social species.
22. Yellow Grosbeak
Male Yellow Grosbeaks may take on orange heads depending on maturity and breeding condition. Females retain yellow heads year-round. Search for this South American species in woodland canopies where they feed on fruits and insects.
23. Barn Owl
Though appearing mostly white, buff, and brown, Barn Owls turn bright orange-faced as they reach adulthood. However, their heart-shaped faces help identify them year-round. Look and listen for these widespread owls near barns, bridges, and other structures.
24. Gray Catbird
While Gray Catbirds may hide their black caps, males show a rusty orange patch on their crowns when excited. Otherwise gray-bodied, watch for this behavior in spring when defending breeding territories across backyards, thickets, and forests of North America.
25. Crimson Sunbird
Adult male Crimson Sunbirds display brilliant crimson-orange heads, throats, and breasts. Females retain a yellow-orange wash. Watch for these tiny birds feeding on nectar from colorful flowers across sub-Saharan Africa.
26. Yellow-tailed Oriole
Male Yellow-tailed Orioles show deep orange heads, tails, and wings contrasting with black bibs and white bellies. Females appear more yellow and brown. Search palms and orchards of Central America and northern South America for these striking songbirds.
27. Black-tailed Godwit
In breeding plumage, both male and female Black-tailed Godwits turn rich orange across their heads, necks, and breasts. The rest of the year they appear plain grey and white. Search for these long-billed shorebirds in wetlands across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
28. Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Spiky orange crests of male Brown-hooded Kingfishers turn brighter during breeding season. Females show more muted orange crests year-round. Otherwise blue-toned, watch for these widespread kingfishers across woodland streams of sub-Saharan Africa.
29. European Robin
Male European Robins sport orange faces, throats, and chests bordered by grey. Females wash paler orange overall. A beloved songbird across Europe, this species thrives in parks and gardens as well as native woodlands.
30. Vermilion Flycatcher
When excited, male Vermilion Flycatchers raise their flamboyant orange crests. Their orange heads signal maturity. Females appear more subdued with grey heads. Watch for aerial displays and crest-raising across open habitats from the southwestern U.S. to Argentina.
31. Western Reef Heron
Western Reef Herons may take on rich orange heads, necks, and bills during breeding season. At other times, they look dark grey. White morphs also exist. Scan coastal reefs, mangroves, and lagoons across the Indian Ocean and south Pacific for these striking herons.
32. Bohemian Waxwing
When viewed well, Bohemian Waxwings show subtle orange undertones sprinkled across their crests and faces, complementing grey plumage. They breed in North American and Eurasian northlands but wander more widely in winter. Search fruit trees and flowering shrubs for these nomadic flocks.
As you can see, the bird world contains splashes of orange on heads ranging from muted to neon bright. Though many birds are difficult to find, patient and sharp-eyed birders may luck into brilliant orange sightings during travels near and far. Understanding species’ ranges, behaviors, and habitats helps you know where and when to search. So tap into your inner birding explorer, stay alert, and keep your eyes peeled for orange-headed feathered friends.
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- Click here – Male Baltimore Oriole seen in Quebec
Click on the bird names listed below to see pictures of Orange Birds seen in North America
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Orange birds of North America are found in many different bird groups, in the same manner as other birds of different common colours. Some are found in dry open areas such as the Says Phoebe and the Hooded Oriole, whose habitat is sparse and dry.
Others such as the Baltimore Oriole, Bullocks Oriole and the Black-headed Grosbeak, favour the mixed forests, as their homes. The Varied Thrush prefers the more northern regions.
Below is a list of orange coloured birds, where the colour orange is the more prominent colour of its plumage. It is interesting to note that most of the orange coloured birds that are seen, are male species of that bird type, whereas the females of the same species may be of any other colour.
For example, the Hooded Oriole, whose bright orange plumage easily identifies it as a member of the oriole family, and its mate has a light yellow to a light yellow-orangish plumage. The reason for this is to protect the female birds while they are sitting on their nest and making them less obvious.
Rare Orange Bird with Green Head Stands Out Among Tiny Flock in a Lush Forest!
FAQ
What kind of bird has an orange head?
The Orange-headed Tanager is a resident of gallery forest and second growth forest in Venezuela, the Atlantic Coast of Brazil and from Colombia south to Northern Argentina. Male Orange-headed Tanagers have a bright orange-yellow head that contrasts with the bird’s overall gray brown upperparts and whitish underparts.
What is a small gray bird with an orange crown?
The Orange-crowned Warbler is divided into four subspecies that differ in plumage color, size, and molt patterns. The one named celata is found in Alaska and across Canada, and it is the dullest and grayest.
What is a small bird with an orange top?
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
Along with the orange chest, the males of this small thrush-type bird have vivid blue upperparts, an orange throat, orange flanks, and a white belly. The females look dull with brownish-grey upper parts, orange chests and sides, white bellies, and some blue on the wings and tail.
What is a white bird with an orange crown?
| Orange-crowned warbler | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Leiothlypis |
| Species: | L. celata |
| Binomial name | |
| Leiothlypis celata (Say, 1822) |
What birds have orange heads?
From wading birds like ruffs and avocets to orange-headed woodpeckers and orioles, you’re bound to be impressed by the variety. Without further ado, let’s get stuck into the bird species of North America that have heads like orange beacons, beckoning you to get to know them better. You soon will. Image Credit: Depositphotos.
Why do some birds have orange heads?
Most species that show an orange head are adapted to vivid coloring during the breeding season. Male birds change their typical duller head color to an orange color to attract the attention of their female partners. In rare cases, both male and female species may show similar orange heads.
Which bird has orange plumage?
One bird with orange plumage is the Common Redstart. A member of the warbler family, it can be found in Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. The male Common Redstart has orange plumage on its chest and tail, while the female’s orange is more subdued.
What does an Oriole bird look like?
Native to Central America, Streak-Backed Orioles have an orange head and bright orange coloring across the back and belly in the case of males. These birds have orange wings at the base while the rest of the wings are black and white. Birds of the species have long black tails.
What is an example of a small orange bird?
Say’s Phoebe is a small orange bird found in western North America. The orange coloration on its throat and breast makes it easily identifiable. These birds typically live in open woodlands and can often be spotted near streams or rivers.
What bird has orange head in India?
One notable orange-colored bird in India is the Indian Pitta, which has vibrant orange and green plumage. Q3: What kind of bird is orange-headed in Mexico? The Orange-fronted Parakeet is a bird in Mexico with an orange head.