Wyoming’s vast landscapes harbor a surprising secret: some of North America’s most spectacular orange birds in wyoming call this rugged state home.
While many associate the Equality State with golden eagles and mountain bluebirds, the vibrant orange species that grace Wyoming’s skies during breeding season create unforgettable moments for those who know where to look.
Whether you’re scanning open woodlands for the flash of a Bullock’s Oriole or listening for the distinctive call of a Western Tanager, these seven orange-hued species transform Wyoming’s birding scene from late spring through early fall.
Each brings unique behavioral patterns, habitat preferences, and identification challenges that make spotting them both rewarding and educational.
Bullock’s Oriole
The Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii) stands as Wyoming’s most recognizable orange bird, with males displaying brilliant orange plumage contrasted by bold black markings across the eyes and throat.
These medium-sized songbirds prefer open woodlands and parklike settings where large trees provide both nesting sites and abundant insects.
During the breeding season from May through July, male Bullock’s Orioles establish territories in cottonwood groves along rivers and streams.
Their hanging, basket-like nests are architectural marvels, woven from plant fibers and often suspended 15-30 feet above ground. Recent studies indicate that Bullock’s Orioles have adapted well to human-modified landscapes, frequently visiting suburban areas with mature shade trees.
Females display more subdued coloring with yellowish-orange underparts and grayish-brown wings, making them trickier to identify.
Both sexes produce a variety of musical notes, but males are particularly vocal during dawn choruses, delivering rich, flute-like songs that carry considerable distances across open terrain.
Pro Tip: Listen for their distinctive “chu-chu-chu” call, especially during courtship displays when males dive near potential mates.
American Redstart
The American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) brings flash and flair to Wyoming’s forested regions, particularly during migration periods.
Males showcase striking orange patches on their wings, sides, and tail that become prominent when they fan their tail feathers or spread their wings while foraging.
This warbler species exhibits remarkable hunting behavior, constantly flicking its tail and wings to startle insects from hiding spots. Migration tracking data shows American Redstarts typically arrive in Wyoming during late April and early May, with peak numbers passing through in mid-May.
Unlike permanent residents, American Redstarts use Wyoming primarily as breeding habitat and stopover sites during migration. They favor deciduous and mixed forests, especially areas with dense understory vegetation where insects are abundant. Males arrive first to establish territories, followed by females who select mates based on territory quality and male plumage condition.
The species demonstrates interesting age-related plumage differences. First-year males resemble females with yellow patches instead of orange, only developing full adult coloration during their second year. This delayed maturation strategy affects breeding success and territorial behavior patterns.
Blackburnian Warbler
Though uncommon, the Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) represents one of Wyoming’s most stunning orange discoveries when found. Males display an incredibly vivid orange throat that seems to glow against dark forest backgrounds, earning them the nickname “fire-throat” among dedicated birders.
These warblers prefer mature coniferous forests, particularly areas with tall spruce and fir trees where they forage in the canopy for small insects and caterpillars. Expert birding sources note that Blackburnian Warblers are most commonly observed during spring migration, typically between mid-May and early June.
| Identification Feature | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Throat Color | Brilliant orange | Pale yellow-orange |
| Back Pattern | Black with white stripes | Dark olive with streaking |
| Wing Bars | Two prominent white bars | Two narrow white bars |
| Head Pattern | Black cap with orange triangle | Gray-brown with faint pattern |
Finding Blackburnian Warblers requires patience and knowledge of their preferred elevation ranges. They typically occupy areas between 6,000-9,000 feet in elevation, making mountain foothills and lower alpine zones prime viewing locations. Early morning hours provide the best opportunities when males are most actively singing their high, thin songs.
Key Takeaway: Their extremely high-pitched songs often exceed human hearing range, so visual identification becomes crucial for confirming sightings.
Western Tanager
The Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) ranks among Wyoming’s most photographed orange birds, with breeding males displaying brilliant reddish-orange heads contrasting sharply with bright yellow bodies and black wings. This species exemplifies the dramatic seasonal plumage changes that make bird identification both challenging and exciting.
Western Tanagers inhabit mixed coniferous forests throughout Wyoming’s mountain regions, showing particular preference for areas where Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, and aspen create diverse canopy structure. Research from Wyoming Game & Fish identifies Western Tanagers as one of the state’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need due to habitat pressures and climate change impacts.
During breeding season, males establish territories encompassing 2-8 acres of suitable forest habitat. Their diet shifts seasonally from primarily insects during breeding to fruits and berries during migration, making them important seed dispersers for various plant species. Females build cup-shaped nests on horizontal branches, typically 15-40 feet above ground in dense foliage.
The species demonstrates interesting molt patterns, with males losing their bright orange head coloring outside of breeding season. This transformation can confuse novice birders who encounter the same individuals at different times of year, highlighting the importance of understanding seasonal plumage variations.
Common Mistake: Many birders mistake female Western Tanagers for large warblers due to their yellow-green coloring and similar size.
Say’s Phoebe
Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya) offers a subtler orange experience, displaying soft orange-buff coloring on the belly that contrasts beautifully with its gray-brown upperparts. This flycatcher species thrives in Wyoming’s open rangelands, making it one of the most accessible orange birds for casual observers.
Unlike forest-dwelling species, Say’s Phoebes prefer open habitats including grasslands, agricultural areas, and ranch buildings where they hunt insects from exposed perches. Habitat studies show they commonly use fence posts, utility lines, and building eaves as hunting platforms, making them conspicuous to human observers.
These phoebes exhibit remarkable site fidelity, often returning to the same nesting locations year after year. They build cup-shaped nests of mud, grass, and other materials under overhangs, bridges, or building eaves. The species demonstrates adaptive behavior by incorporating human-made structures into their nesting preferences, allowing population stability despite habitat changes.
Behavioral identification features include their characteristic tail-wagging motion and habit of returning to the same perch after catching insects. Their calls consist of plaintive “pee-ur” notes that carry well across open landscapes, making audio identification reliable even at considerable distances.
Barn Swallow
The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) showcases rusty-orange underparts that become particularly vibrant during peak breeding condition. These aerial acrobats combine stunning plumage with extraordinary flight capabilities, making them among Wyoming’s most dynamic orange birds to observe.
Barn Swallows prefer open areas near water sources where flying insects are abundant. Migration research indicates they arrive in Wyoming during late April, with breeding populations remaining through August before beginning their remarkable journey to South American wintering grounds.
The species demonstrates sophisticated nest-building behavior, constructing cup-shaped mud nests attached to vertical surfaces. Pairs often reuse and renovate nests from previous years, with some structures serving multiple generations. Males with longer tail streamers typically attract higher-quality mates and achieve greater breeding success.
Their diet consists almost entirely of flying insects captured during continuous aerial foraging. A single Barn Swallow can consume over 800 insects per day during peak breeding season, making them valuable allies for controlling mosquito and fly populations around ranch operations and suburban areas.
Pro Tip: Watch for their distinctive deeply forked tail and graceful, swooping flight patterns that distinguish them from other swallow species.
Orchard Oriole
The Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) represents Wyoming’s rarest orange bird, with males displaying deep burnt-orange bodies contrasted by black heads, backs, and wings. This smaller oriole species challenges birders with its limited Wyoming distribution and subtle habitat preferences.
Males require three years to develop full adult plumage, progressing through yellow-green juvenile stages and intermediate “sub-adult” phases with black bibs but yellow-orange bodies. This extended maturation process means correctly aged males are relatively scarce even within suitable habitat areas.
Orchard Orioles prefer edge habitats where open areas meet scattered trees, particularly favoring native deciduous species like cottonwoods and willows. State wildlife surveys suggest they occur mainly in eastern Wyoming counties where suitable riparian corridors provide nesting opportunities and insect abundance.
The species constructs pendant nests similar to other orioles but typically places them in smaller trees at lower heights, usually 8-20 feet above ground. Females weave intricate baskets from plant fibers, creating structures that balance concealment with accessibility for their specialized foraging behaviors.
Key Takeaway: Their smaller size and darker orange coloration distinguish them from the more common Bullock’s Oriole, but overlapping habitats can make field identification challenging without careful observation.
Wyoming’s orange birds offer remarkable diversity in size, habitat preferences, and seasonal availability. From the common Barn Swallow gracefully hunting insects over ranch ponds to the rare Orchard Oriole hidden in cottonwood groves, each species contributes unique elements to the state’s avian tapestry.
Understanding their distinct characteristics, preferred habitats, and seasonal patterns transforms casual bird watching into informed wildlife observation, revealing the complex ecological relationships that sustain these vibrant populations across Wyoming’s varied landscapes.
The key to successful orange bird identification lies in combining visual field marks with behavioral observations and habitat context.
Whether you’re exploring Yellowstone’s forests or scanning eastern Wyoming’s grasslands, these seven species represent the spectrum of orange bird diversity awaiting discovery by patient and prepared observers.
