Thanks in part to the very distinctive plumage of the young male, the Orchard Oriole was a bit of a puzzle to the European ornithologists of the eighteenth century. Not until Alexander Wilson pointed out the abundant differences between this species, in all its plumages, and the Baltimore Oriole was there even agreement that eastern North American was inhabited by more than one Icterus.
In the course of his argument, Wilson cites the descriptions offered by his predecessors and updates their identifications where necessary. The links below demonstrate abundantly how confusing the situation was — and just how much acribious work was involved in unraveling the various descriptions and illustrations.
Buffon: Baltimore Oriole / Orchard Oriole
Latham: Baltimore Oriole / Orchard Oriole and Orchard Oriole; see also the Supplement
Pennant: Baltimore Oriole / Orchard Oriole
And Catesby: Baltimore Oriole / Orchard Oriole
