Jamaican Oriole

The Jamaican oriole is about 21 cm (8.3 in) long and weighs 34 to 42 g (1.2 to 1.5 oz). The sexes have the same plumage though females are somewhat duller than males. Adults of the nominate subspecies are mostly olivaceous yellow with a somewhat yellower belly. They have a black mask, throat, and upper breast. Their wings are mostly black with wide white edges on the inner flight feathers and white coverts; the last show as a large white patch on the folded wing. Their tail is black. Subspecies I. l. lawrencii is a brighter yellow-green than the nominate and has lemon-yellow underparts. Both subspecies have a dark brown iris, a bluish gray bill with a black culmen, and dark gray legs and feet.

The nominate subspecies of the Jamaican oriole is found on the island of Jamaica. Subspecies I. l. lawrencii is found on San Andrés Island, which is off the coast of Nicaragua despite being Colombian territory. Subspecies I. l. bairdi was found on Grand Cayman Island. On Jamaica the species inhabits all forest types except mangroves. It also inhabits woodlands, generally any treed area, and gardens. Though it is mostly a bird of the lowlands it occurs at all elevations. Its habitat associations on San Andrés have not been studied.

The Jamaican oriole feeds primarily on insects and other arthropods, smaller amounts of fruit and nectar, and possibly small vertebrates. It feeds on both wild and cultivated fruits and takes nectar from flowers and hummingbird feeders. It often captures prey exposed by scaling off bark; it also finds it in epiphytic bromeliads. It forages in pairs and family groups.