Bird Magic: Wisdom of the Ancient Goddess for Pagans & Wiccans - Sandra Kynes 2016
Oriole: Baltimore Oriole, Bullock’s Oriole
The Profiles
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
While orioles do not figure in legends and folklore, these birds are skilled weavers and have much to share and teach us. Although not related to the orioles of Europe, the North American birds were given the same common name because of their similarity in appearance.
The name oriole comes from the Latin aureolus, which means “golden” and refers to their stunning yellow or orange coloration.101 The Baltimore oriole was so named to honor George Calvert, Lord Baltimore (c. 1580—1632), investor and founder of the Maryland colony, whose coat-of-arms matched this bird’s black and orange colors.
The two species of orioles included in this book interbreed where their ranges overlap on the Great Plains. The calls of both orioles are very similar, but the song of the Baltimore is more melodic. Although both male and female Bullock’s orioles sing, they have slightly different songs. For a time, the Baltimores and Bullock’s were considered one species and called the northern oriole. However, they have been returned to their former statuses.
Orioles are known for their intricately woven, pouch-like nests, which hang underneath branches. This skill strongly echoes the Bird Goddess as giver of crafts as well as all the later goddesses associated with spinning and weaving.
Magical Workings
Vivid plumage has made oriole a symbol of cheerfulness and energy as well as springtime. With its bright colors balanced by black, this bird brings stability to home, marriage, and relationships.
Just as the fate goddesses are associated with spinning and weaving, oriole can be an aid in developing skills for divination and prophecy. Call on it to help you weave your path and manifest what you seek. It is also an aid for spellwork. Oriole is instrumental for connecting with the fairy realm and tree spirits. Place an offering for fairies or tree spirits at the base of a tree, especially if it holds an oriole nest. Also, leave some seeds for the bird.
Make Connection
To connect with oriole energy, gather two candles, one orange and one black; orange and black yarn or ribbon; and a small basket. Sit quietly in front of your altar for a moment or two, and then light the candles. Slowly wind the orange and black yarn or ribbon around the outside of the basket. When you have finished, hold the basket as you say: “Oriole bird of black and gold, bring your presence to this basket I hold.” Bring the image of an oriole into your mind. Nothing may happen the first few times you try this, but when oriole becomes present in your life you will be able to visualize small whitish-blue or gray eggs in the basket.
Associations
Element(s): Air, fire
Goddesses: Athena, the Fates, Freya, Frigg, Minerva, the Norns
Solar system: Sun
Trees: Elm, maple, cottonwood
Magical beings: Elves, fairies, tree spirits
Bird Identification
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
Size: 7 to 8 inches
Wingspan: 9 to 12 inches
Comparative size: Sparrow to robin
Description: Thick neck; long, black legs; black, pointed bill with thick base; orange outer tail feathers
Male: Mostly bright orange; black head and upper back; black wings with one white bar
Female: Yellow-orange breast; gray head and back; two white wing bars
Range: Eastern United States and southern Canada to the Rocky Mountains, down to Texas and parts of Central America
Habitat: Open woods and forest edges, orchards, parks, and backyards
Eggs: Pale gray or blue-white with brown, black, or lavender blotches
Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii)
Size: 7 to 8 inches
Wingspan: 9 to 12 inches
Comparative size: Sparrow to robin
Description: Long tail; dark gray, pointed bill; long, grayish legs; one or two wing bars
Male: Black back, nape, and crown; other parts of head and underparts orange-yellow; black eye line, chin, and center of throat; orange-yellow or yellow rump; yellow tail tipped with black and black middle feather; black wings edged white; white wing patch
Female: Pale gray-brown to yellowish upperparts with dark streaking; yellowish to green-gray underparts with paler belly; some black on throat; gray-brown wings with one or two wing bars
Range: From the West Coast of the United States, through the Rockies and the westernmost plains states, into Mexico and parts of Central America
Habitat: Open woodlands, riverbank stands of trees, and parkland
Eggs: Pale blue or grayish white splotched with purplish-brown lines
Collective noun(s): A pitch or a split of orioles
101. Fraser and Gray, Australian Bird Names, 230.