Blackbirds (Icteridae)

How long do hooded orioles live?

The oldest Hooded Oriole on record lived to 6 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild hooded orioles live only a few years.

Hooded Oriole, verified photograph
Hooded Oriole — photo: Wikimedia Commons
Longest recorded lifespan
6 years
Record from
Wild bird
Eggs per clutch
2–5 eggs
Broods per year
1–2 per season
Size
7.1–7.9 in, 0.8–1 oz
Rank in family (of species on this site)
14 of 14

Record age versus typical age

Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Hooded Oriole can survive to, not what most do.

For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.

How hooded orioles compare with relatives

Oldest recorded ages for other blackbirds on this site.

More about hooded orioles

Frequently asked

How long do hooded orioles live?

The longest-lived Hooded Oriole on record reached 6 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild hooded orioles live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.

What is the oldest Hooded Oriole ever recorded?

6 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.

How many young can a Hooded Oriole raise in a year?

Pairs lay 2–5 eggs and raise 1–2 per season.

Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info