Breeds in central Mexico from Durango and Nuevo León south to Michoacán and Veracruz. Winters in central Mexico mostly along transvolcanic belt south to Oxaca.
 
Population
Estimated population is 50,000 - 499,999 (2010).
Black-backed Oriole (Icterus abeillei) [XC586471]
by Isain Contreras Rodr\u00edguez from Mexico City, Federal District, laguna de San Gregorio Atpulco, Mexico (song)
Black-backed Oriole (Icterus abeillei) [XC587663]
by Manuel Grosselet from Parque Ecol\u00f3gico de Xochimilco, Mexico (call)
Sometimes treated as conspecific with Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockiorum), but DNA data indicate that it is sister to Northern Oriole (Icterus galbula) and all formerly treated as conspecific.