Orange Breasted Birds (ID Guide)

Author: Tammy Poppie
Updated:
Reviewed by:
Varied thrush perched on a branch

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Orange Breasted Birds (ID Guide)

Author: Tammy Poppie
Updated:
Reviewed by:
Varied thrush perched on a branch

This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you buy after clicking on our links.

A complete identification guide of orange-breasted birds throughout the US and Canada including photos and details about each species.

Did you spot an orange-breasted bird and wonder what type it is? Congrats – you’re in the right place! This article includes the species of wild birds that have orange chests and live in the US and Canada.

The birds included in this article could have a bright orange chest, dull orange, or some other shade of orange. It may be that the female of the species has the orange breast, or the male, or both! Regardless, they’re all here!

The next step is to identify it.

A beautiful photo of each bird and their range map are included to help you identify the one you’re interested in identifying.

t doesn’t stop there. You’ll also learn about the bird’s habitat, diet, nesting habits, and what foods they’ll eat at the feeder.

The range maps are color-coded so you know if it’s a year-round bird, there to breed, migrating through, or there during a nonbreeding time.

range map color coded key

With more than 20 years of experience attracting backyard birds to my yard in Wisconsin, I’ve studied all of the orange-breasted birds in my area so I have the information you’re looking for. For the remaining species, I rely on my trusty sourcebooks and friends at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology to guide me.

Orange-Breasted Birds

Allen’s Hummingbird

Allen's hummingbird perched on a pine tree branch
Allen’s hummingbird. Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay
AppearanceAllen’s hummingbird is a tiny bird about 3.75″ long. They’re an orange-brown color with a bright copper iridescent throat, green head & back, brown wing flanks, and tufts of white on the neck and lower belly. The female is the same except pale coppery flanks.
DietNectar from flowers and bushes as well as insects.
Feeder FoodNectar
HabitatOpen woodlands
NestingThey nest in trees or shrubs between 2-50′ from the ground. They have 1-3 broods/season and usually 2 tiny white eggs/brood. Eggs are incubated for 17-22 days and fledglings leave the nest after about 22-25 days.

Range Map

Allen's hummingbird  range map.
Allen’s hummingbird range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Altamira Oriole

Altamira oriole on a palm branch
Altamira oriole. Photo by Ryan Arnst on Unsplash
AppearanceThe Altamira oriole is a medium-size bird, but large for an oriole, at about 9″ long. They are bright, deep orange with black on their face, throat, back, wings, and tail. They also have a thick, pointy bill. The female looks the same.
DietFlower nectar, fruits, insects, and berries.
Feeder FoodFresh fruit such as oranges and grapes, sugar-water nectar, as well as sunflower seeds.
HabitatAlthough mostly a tropical bird found in Mexico and South America, it’s slowly inched northward into Texas where they prefer lightly wooded areas and edges.
NestingThe pouch-like nest is suspended at the end of forked branches about 10-80′ up in a tree. They have about 4-6 eggs that are blue/white in color and speckled with black and lavender.

Range Map

Altamira oriole range map.
Altamira oriole range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

American Robin

American robin perched on a branch
American robin. Photo by Trac Vu on Unsplash

Appearance: The American robin is a medium-size bird about 10″ long, with gray/brown upper, brown/orange underparts, yellow beak, white chin, and white surrounding eyes. orange beak. The Female has a lighter head and underparts.

Diet: Earthworms, insects, and fruit.

Feeder food: Not a feeder visitor.

Habitat: Common and pervasive throughout US and Canada. Found in fields, parks, wooded and forested areas, mountains, and backyards.

Nesting:

  • Nest: Nesting sites vary from the lower half of a tree to rain gutters, outdoor lights, and more.
  • Broods: 1-3 broods/season,
  • Clutch: 3-5 eggs/brood,
  • Egg color: Bright sky blue or blue-green, without spots
  • Egg size: 1.1″ long x 8″ wide
  • Incubation: 12-14 days.

Migration: American robins are migrators.
Year-round range: Every US state except North Dakota, southern parts of Canada’s British Columbia, and Alberta, as well as Mexico.
Breeding range: Canada and Alaska.
Winter range: While most American robins head south back to the year-round range, others will go further into the far southern parts of Florida, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico.

Range Map

american robin bird on a branch
American Robin range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Audubon’s Oriole

Audubon's oriole perched on a branch
Audubon’s oriole. Photo by Butch Ramirez Photography.
AppearanceThe Audubon’s oriole is a medium-sized bird about 7.5-9.5″ long with an orange-yellow body and black on its head, wings, and tail. Wings are also striped with white. The bill is long, pointy, and curved downward. The females look the same but a bit more subdued in color.
DietInsects, berries, and occasionally flower nectar.
Feeder FoodSugar-water nectar and sunflower seeds.
HabitatWooded and brushy areas especially along the water.
NestingTheir pouch-style nests are suspended on the outer branches about 5-15′ up in a tree. They have about 3-5 eggs that are blue/white with dark streeks and speckles.

Range Map

Audubon's oriole range map.
Audubon’s oriole range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.


Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore oriole sitting on a branch
Baltimore oriole. Photo by Lonnie Gilstrap.
Female Baltimore oriole on a deck rail approaching food
Female Baltimore oriole. Photo by Donna Cooper.
AppearanceMedium-sized bird about 8.25″ long. Male Baltimore orioles have a flaming orange body and black head with black and white wing bars. The tail is orange with black and white streaks.
The female and juvenile birds have pale yellow heads and bodies with grayish-brown wings and white wing bars.
Both genders have a gray bill and dark eyes.
Diet Insects, berries, and nectar from flowers.
Feeder FoodBaltimore Orioles will eat sweet foods such as nectar, oranges, and regular grape jelly.
HabitatBaltimore orioles can be found in residential areas and wooded edges rich with high, deciduous shade trees – especially during breeding. They often nest near natural water sources such as ponds and rivers.
NestingThe female builds a 4-6″ hanging long purse-style nest suspended on the end of a forked branch and only has one brood per year. About 4-5 bluish-colored eggs with brown markings are incubated for 12-14 days.

Range Map

map of Baltimore oriole migrating, breeding, and winter range
Baltimore oriole migration, breeding, wintering map.

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow. Photo by Lisa Minica.

Appearance: 7″ long, steel blue glossy on top, chestnut forehead and throat, and rust-orange underparts. Long forked tail with a white base. The female’s coloring is lighter and the tail shorter.

Diet: Insects, preferably beetles, wasps, and flies. Drinks by skimming the surface of the water.

Feeder food: Not likely to visit a feeder.

Habitat: Open fields and pastures.

Nesting: A barn swallow typically nests in or on a manmade structure such as a barn. Builds nests of mud. 2 broods/season, 4-5 eggs per brood, eggs are white with brown markings, incubation from 13-17 days.

Migration: Barn swallows are migrators. In spring, they’ll migrate north into the US and Canada for breeding and to raise their young. When fall comes, they’ll head south to Mexico’s southern states. That said, they do maintain a year-round range in central Mexico where they remain for every season.

Range Map

barn swallow range map
Barn swallow range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Belted Kingfisher

Belted kingfisher on a perch
Belted kingfisher. Image by Katherine Durtnell from Pixabay

Appearance: The belted kingfisher is a large 13″ long bird with a large head, long bill, and stocky body.  Blue/gray throughout with white ring around neck and white chest. The Female is the same but with an additional chestnut band on her chest.

Diet: Large 13″ long bird with a large head, long bill, and stocky body.  Blue/gray throughout with white ring around neck and white chest. The Female is the same but with the additional chestnut band on the chest.

Feeder food: Unlikely to come to the feeder but often attracted to yards with streams or ponds.

Habitat: Near streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and calm marine waters – especially unclouded water with little vegetation.

Nesting: Belted kingfishers dig burrows along the water’s edge for their nest. 1-2 broods/season, 5-8 eggs/brood – large white glossy eggs (1.5″ long), 22-24 days incubation.

Migration: Many but not all belted kingfishers are migrators. In spring, the migrators will head north into Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, Canada, and Alaska to breed and raise their young. When fall comes the migrators head back south – as far south as Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, and Mexico.
Year-round range: All US states (except North Dakota and Arizona) and the pacific coast of Canada’s British Columbia.
Breeding range: While some stay in their year-round range, many others migrate north into Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, Canada, and Alaska to breed and raise their young. When fall comes the migrators head back south – as far south as Arizona, New Mexico, and southern California.
Winter range: While many belted kingfishers migrate south for winter, just as many remain in their year-round range when the temperatures dip.

Range Map

belted kingfisher range map
Belted kingfisher range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Black-Headed Grosbeak

Black-headed grosbeak on a feeder
Black-headed grosbeak. Photo by Hunter Masters on Unsplash
AppearanceThe black-headed grosbeak is a medium-sized bird about 8 1/4″ long. They have orange-cinnamon underparts, a black head, and black-and-white wings. The female is brown above with orange-brown streaks underneath, white eyebrows, and white wingbars.
DietInsects, seeds, buds, and fruit.
Feeder FoodSunflower seeds, nectar.
HabitatOpen woodlands, lowlands as well as in wooded backyards.
NestingThey build a large nest – about 5-7″ in diameter – and place them on the outer branch of a deciduous tree or shrub 6-12′ up. They have 1 brood/season and 2-5 eggs/brood that are green/blue with spots. Incubation is for 12-14 days and fledglings leave the nest at about 10-14 days.

Range Map

Black-headed grosbeak range map.
Black-headed grosbeak range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian warbler perched on a branch
Blackburnian warbler. Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash.
AppearanceThe Blackburnian warbler is a small bird about 4.5″ long. They have a vivid orange face and throat with a black crown and triangular tripe behind the eyes. The wings are black with white stripes, the belly is pale yellow with black streaks and their bills are short and pointy. The female is similar except she’s much paler all over and yellow instead of orange.
DietInsects and berries.
Feeder FoodUnlikely to visit a feeder, however, may be enticed with mealworms.
HabitatPrefer deep forested areas of deciduous and coniferous trees. Often found perched on the tip-top of a spruce tree.
NestingTheir nest is placed high in a coniferous tree near the end of an upper limb. They have 1 brood/season and 3-5 eggs/brood that are white or greenish/white with brown speckles.

Range Map

Blackburnian warbler range map.
Blackburnian warbler range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Bullock’s Oriole

Male bullock's oriole perched on a branch
Male bullock’s oriole. Image by PublicDomainImages from Pixabay
Female bullock's oriole on an orange feeder
Female bullock’s oriole. Photo by Jeff Krogstad.
AppearanceThe Bullock’s oriole is a medium-sized bird about 8″ long. They’re orange with a black crown, eye stripes, throat, back, and wings (+ white wingbars). During the first spring, a juvenile male is more yellow-orange with a black mask and throat.
The female is yellow with a dark stripe through the middle her eyes, and grayish-black only on her wings. White wingbars accent the black.
DietInsects, spiders, fruits, and nectar.
Feeder FoodCut fruit, jelly, or nectar.
HabitatOpen wooded areas especially along riverbanks.
NestingBullock’s orioles build a hanging pouch style nest about 10-20′ high in a tree or shrub and is suspended from a forked branch. They have 4-5 eggs/brood that are incubated for 11-14 days. The eggs are pale blue/white with purplish-brown spots. Fledglings leave the nest at about 14 days.

Range Map

Bullock's oriole range map.
Bullock’s oriole range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Eastern Bluebird

Male eastern bluebird
Male eastern bluebird. Photo by Mike Carmo.

Appearance: Eastern bluebirds are small birds about 7″ long, royal blue, orange throat & breast, white belly & undertail. Female is similar but with more muted colors

Diet: Insects & spiders in spring/summer. Small fruit in Fall/Winter. 

Feeder food: Suet, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, jelly. 

Habitat: Wide-open spaces, fields, meadows.

Nesting:

  • Nest: Cavity nesters. The male bluebird determines the nest site (an old woodpecker hole in a tree or manmade nestbox), but the female is the one who builds the nest. She keeps the nest for multiple broods.
  • Brood: 2-7 broods/season
  • Clutch: 4-5 eggs/brood
  • Egg color: Pale blue eggs (sometimes white) with no blemishes or discoloration. 
  • Egg size: 0.9 inches by 0.8 inches
  • Incubation: 11-19 days

Migration: Some eastern bluebirds are migrators. While many remain in their year-round range all year long, some migrate north for breeding and raising their young then head south in winter back into the year-round range or further west into Colorado, New Mexico, and western Texas.
Year-round range: The US states south and east of Nebraska, Mexico, and Central America.
Breeding range: Northwest Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, the northern half of Wisconsin & Michigan, New Hampshire, Maine, and the southern part of these Canadian provinces: Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
Winter range: Eastern Colorado, New Mexico, western Texas, and northeast Mexico.

Range Map

US map showing the migration range of the eastern bluebird
Map depicting where Eastern bluebirds can be found throughout the year. Compliments of Cornell University.

Flame-Colored Tanager

Flame-colored tanager perched on a branch
Flame-colored tanager (male).
Female flame-colored tanager perched on a branch
Flame-colored tanager (female).
AppearanceBright flame-orange bird with brown feathers and tail. Also displays a brown mark below the cheek. Gray bill with additional white markings on the wings. The female is yellow instead of orange.
DietInsects and fruit.
Feeder FoodUnknown
HabitatPine and coniferous wooded areas in mountainous foothills within their range.
NestingUnknown

Range Map

Flame-colored tanager range map.
Flame-colored tanager range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Hooded Oriole

Hooded Oriole
Male hooded oriole. Photo by Laurie Hillyer.
Female hooded oriole perched on a shepherds hook
Female hooded oriole
AppearanceHooded Orioles are medium-sized- birds about 8″ long. The male is a deep orange with a black face, throat, wings (+ white wingbars), and long tail. They also have a long pointy turned down bil.
• A juvenile male is the same with bright yellow instead of orange.
• The female is yellow with an olive back and black wings with white wingbars.
DietInsects, spiders, fruits, and nectar.
Feeder FoodFruit and nectar.
HabitatOpen, dry areas with scattered trees – especially palm trees.
NestingThese birds nest in shade trees, palm trees, or large shrubs about 10-45′ up. The nest is a suspended cup-style. They have 1-2 broods/season and 4 eggs/brood that are whitish to pale blue with dark blotches. Incubation is for about 13 days. Fledglings leave the nest at about 14 days.

Range Map

Hooded oriole range map
Hooded oriole range map. range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Lazuli Bunting

Lazuli Bunting
Lazuli Bunting. Photo taken at the Powell Butte Nature Park in Portland, taken by Patti Bright.

Appearance: Small bird 5-6″ long, brilliant blue on top, soft orange-cinnamon color chest, white belly and patch on the shoulder, cone-shaped bill, and slightly flat forehead.

Diet: Insects, fruits, and grasses.

Feeder Food: White proso millet, sunflower seeds, or nyjer thistle seeds.

Habitat: Open woodlands, brushy hillsides, thickets, and backyards throughout the West.

Nesting: Cup-shaped nest of bark, twigs, and leaves nestled in a shrub about 3′ up. They have 1-2 broods/season, 3-4 eggs/brood, and eggs are .7-.8″ long and pale blue to faint green/blue or white. 11-14 days incubation period.

Range Map

Lazuli bunting range map.

Olive Warbler

Olive warbler perched on a branch
Olive warbler. Photo by Matthew Studebaker.
AppearanceOlive warblers are small birds with an orange head, throat, and chest. They have a black eye mask. Most of the body is gray with black wings and white wing bars. The female is more subdued and more yellow vs orange.
DietInsects.
Feeder FoodUnlikely to visit a feeder.
HabitatForested areas comprised of coniferous trees.
NestingNests are located very high up in coniferous trees – 30-70′ up placed on the outer branches. They have 3-4 blue-white eggs with brown speckles.

Range Map

Olive warbler range map.
Olive warbler range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Orchard Oriole

Orchard oriole
Orchard oriole. Photo by AJ Small.
Female orchard oriole perched on a branch
Female orchard oriole. Photo by Jay Wooster.
AppearanceThe orchard oriole is a medium-sized bird about 7″ long. The male has black upperparts and orange-chestnut underparts. They have a pointy bill that points downward.
The female is a pale yellow with black wings and white wingbars.
DietInsects, spiders, fruits, and nectar.
Feeder FoodCut fruit and nectar.
HabitatThis bird prefers open woodlands along waterways as well as open shrubby areas.
NestingThey nest on the outer branches of a tree between 10-50′ up. Their nest is cup-shaped and hangs about 4″ long. They have 1-2 broods/season, 4-6 eggs/rood, and incubate for 12-14 days. Fledglings leave the nest at about 11-14 days.

Range Map

Orchard oriole range map.
Orchard oriole range map. range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted nuthatch on a suet cage
Red-breasted nuthatch. Photo by Robert Heyer.

Appearance: The red-breasted nuthatch is a small bird about 4.5″ long, with gray/blue backs, a white head with black stripes running over either eye, orange-cinnamon-colored breast, and a pointy pick-like beak. The females look the same except their underside is a more faded color. Usually spotted climbing upside-down on a deciduous tree foraging for insects beneath the bark.

Diet: Insects, spiders, and other bugs.

Feeder food: Suet, sunflower seeds, shelled peanuts, fruit.

Habitat: Forested areas primarily comprised of coniferous trees (i.e. pines). Woodsy areas of deciduous trees in the east. Southern birds prefer mountainous regions until winter comes in which case they head to lower land.

Nesting: Red-breasted nuthatches are cavity nesters and they prefer to excavate their own holes. They have 1 brood/season, and 6 eggs/brood, eggs are white & speckled with red-brown.

Migration: Red-breasted nuthatches are partial migrators. While many remain in their year-round range, others migrate south for winter.
Year-round range: Southern Alaska, states in the western third of the US, northern Minnesota & Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New England as well as all Canadian provinces except Nunavut.
Winter range: US states that are not part of the year-round range.

Range Map

Map of the red-breasted nuthatch range
Red-breasted nuthatch range. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Rufous Hummingbird

Rufous hummingbird perched on a thorny branch
Rufous hummingbird. Image by Diana Roberts from Pixabay
AppearanceThe rufous hummingbird is a tiny bird about 3″ long. They have coppery-orange upperparts, flanks, and tails. The gorget is red with orange. The female has metallic green upperparts, a white throat with bronze-green spots, white underparts, and white spots on the throat.
DietNectar from flowers and bushes as well as insects.
Feeder FoodNectar
HabitatOpen woodlands.
NestingThe nest is placed high in coniferous or deciduous trees. They have 1 brood/season and 2-3 tiny white eggs/brood. Eggs are incubated for 15-17 days and fledglings leave the nest after about 151-29 days.

Range Map

Rufous hummingbird range map.
Rufous hummingbird range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Spot-breasted Oriole

Spot-breasted oriole perched on a branch
Spot-breasted oriole. Photo by Jamie MacArthur.
AppearanceSpot-breasted orioles are large birds about 9″ long. They have a deep orange head and flaming orange underparts. The wings are black as well as the throat, and mask. Black spots on the breast. The female is the same
DietInsects, berries, and nectar.
Feeder FoodUnknown.
HabitatScrubby, vegetated areas, and forested edges.
NestingThe pouch-like nest is suspended near the end of forked tree branches. They likely have about 2-5 eggs and they’re white with dark purple markings on them.

Range Map

Spot-breasted oriole range map.
Spot-breasted oriole range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Varied Thrush

Varied thrush perched on a branch
Varied thrush. Image by Veronika Andrews from Pixabay
AppearanceVaried thrushes are large birds about 9 1/2″ long. They are orange underneath except for the black band across the breast. Orange also stripes each side of the head above the eyes. Black back, head, and weaved with orange on the wings. The female is the same except brown instead of black.
DietInsects, berries, fruits, and nuts.
Feeder FoodMay forage for food beneath a feeder.
HabitatThis bird prefers moist coniferous and mixed forests with a closed canopy.
NestingNest: They nest in a conifer 4-20′ up. Females choose the location and build the nest, including layers of moss, mud, twigs, leaves, and grass.
Broods: They have 12-broods/season
Clutch: 1-6 eggs/brood
Egg color: Pale sky blue with occasional dark-brown speckling.
Egg size: 1.1 – 1.4 inches by 0.8 – 0.9 inches
Incubation: 12 days. Fledglings leave the nest at about 13-15 days.

Range Map

Varied thrush range map.
Varied thrush range map. Compliments of The Cornell Lab.

Western Bluebird

Western bluebird perched on branch
Western Bluebird

Appearance: Small bird 7″ long, deep blue underparts, orange-chestnut back and breast. Female gray/blue, light blue wings and tail, and pale chestnut breast.

Diet: Insects, fruits & berries.

Feeder Food: Mealworms

Habitat: Open woodlands especially those with pines and oaks, orchards, and farmland with some trees.

Nesting:

Nest: Cavity nesters – old woodpecker hold or manmade nesting box.
Brood: 2 broods/season
Clutch: 4-5 eggs/brood
Egg color: Pale blue without blemishes, although sometimes are white
Egg size: Length: 0.8-2.4″ x Width: .8″
Incubation: 12-18 days and young fledge at about 20 days.

Range Map

Mountain bluebird range map.

Western Spindalis

western spindalis in a tree
Western Spindalis.
AppearanceThe western spindalis has a burnt orange chest, stripe from the bill to the chest, upper back, and as well as under lower wings. The head and wings are black-and-white striped, and the belly is bright white. The female is similar but a drab olive green instead of orange.
DietAlthough not confirmed, they likely consume fruit as they’re frequently found in fruiting trees.
Feeder FoodUnknown
HabitatThe western spindalis are typically found in the Caribbean and South America. However, they’ve also been sighted in southern Florida.
NestingUnknown

Range Map

Western spindalis range map.
Western spindalis range map.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you’ve identified the orange bird you were looking for or just broadened your knowledge of orange-chested birds in North America. If you want to see more of a particular species of these orange birds, consider taking steps to attract them to your yard.

Happy Birding!

More than 25 years ago, Tammy put her first bird feeder outside her kitchen window. Since then she learned how to attract wild birds to her backyard. Studying the meaning & symbolism of wild birds is also a passion of hers. Read more about Tammy