 The length of the Hispaniolan oriole is an average of 20–22 cm, with males weighing 35–38 g while the females weigh 33–40 g. A similar species that is often mistaken for the Hispaniolan oriole is the yellow-shouldered blackbird ("Agelaius xanthomus"), which is a similar size but only has yellow patches on the shoulders.The call of the Hispaniolan oriole is described as a sharp "keck" or "check".Some accounts say it sounds as if the bird has a cold.