Definition

Noun: 1. A type of American songbird: A New World oriole is a songbird belonging to the family Icteridae, native to the Americas. The males are typically noted for their striking black plumage combined with bright orange or yellow markings.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The vibrant flash of a New World oriole is a welcome sign of spring.
  • We hung a special feeder to attract the New World oriole to our backyard.
  • The Baltimore oriole is one of the most familiar species of New World oriole.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Classification: The term is used in ornithology to distinguish these birds from the unrelated "Old World orioles" (family Oriolidae) found in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
  • The New World oriole belongs to the same family as blackbirds and grackles.

Variants and Related Words

• Oriole (n): Often used as a shortened, common name for a New World oriole, especially in North America. The full term clarifies the zoological group.
  • The oriole built a hanging nest at the edge of the branch.
• Icterid (n): The scientific family name (Icteridae) for New World orioles, blackbirds, meadowlarks, and bobolinks.

Synonyms

• American oriole: A direct synonym emphasizing the geographic range.
• Icterid: A formal, taxonomic synonym referring to the broader bird family.

Related Terms (Not Direct Synonyms)

• Old World oriole: Refers to the visually similar but evolutionarily distinct songbirds of the family Oriolidae, providing a contrasting category.
  • Unlike the New World oriole, the Old World oriole is not closely related to blackbirds.

Noun

1. American songbird; male is black and orange or yellow