Black-headed oriole

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Black-headed oriole
Oropendola enmascarada (Oriolus larvatus), parque nacional Kruger, Sudafrica, 2018-07-25, DD 44.jpg
Song recorded in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Oriolidae
Genus: Oriolus
Species:
O. larvatus
Binomial name
Oriolus larvatus

The black-headed oriole (Oriolus larvatus) is a species of bird in the family Oriolidae. It is found in Africa and has a very striking appearance with a bright yellow body, contrasting black head and flesh-coloured beak.

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

Some authorities have considered the mountain oriole to be a subspecies of the black-headed oriole. Alternate names for the black-headed oriole include the African black-headed oriole, Eastern black-headed oriole and Eastern oriole.

Subspecies

Five subspecies are recognized: [2]

Description

The black-headed oriole has a bright yellow body, contrasting black head and flesh-coloured beak. The voice is a liquid-sounding warble, accompanied by imitations and whistles.

Distribution and habitat

It breeds in much of sub-Saharan Africa from South Sudan and Ethiopia in the north to South Africa in the south.

It inhabits dry tropical forests, especially acacia and broad-leaved woodlands, and dense shrubland areas, where it is more often heard than seen despite the brightness of its plumage.

Behaviour and ecology

The black-headed oriole forages in the canopy, feeding on small fruit as well as large insects. The young are fed mostly with caterpillars.

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References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Oriolus larvatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22706421A94068822. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22706421A94068822.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "IOC World Bird List 7.1". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi: 10.14344/ioc.ml.7.1 .
  3. "HBW 13 – Family text: Oriolidae (Orioles and Figbirds)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.