Along the north shore of Long Island I saw more ORCHARD ORIOLES than in any other locality. Even in that favored stretch of country they were not common, and I have seen only one courting performance. What I thought was a chat attracted my attention in an orchard below the path. Closer approach revealed a male Oriole jerking himself spasmodically up and down above the tree, voicing excited calls not dissimilar from the Yellowbreast Chat's frenzy. The absorbed swain paid no attention to me altho I walked openly to the foot of the tree. The female sat quiet, merely turning her head slowly to follow her lover's gyrations. With his fluttering like a butterfly slowly to her side, the exhibition came to a natural conclusion.
I have never found more than one nest in an orchard and altho considered common birds, luck has not given me many glimpses of them. After the nuptial concert they become silent and it requires keen eyes to identify their quiet forms searching slowly thru tall elm limbs.
Eastern and central United States south to Gulf States; west across Great Plains.