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.
| Black-headed oriole | |
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| Song recorded in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Oriolidae |
| Genus: | Oriolus |
| Species: | O. larvatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Oriolus larvatus Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823
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resident range
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Taxonomy and systematics
editSome 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
editFive subspecies are recognised:[2]
- O. l. rolleti – Salvadori, 1864: Originally described as a separate species. Found from southern Sudan and southern Ethiopia to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and central Kenya
- O. l. reichenowi – Zedlitz, 1916: Found from Somalia to eastern Tanzania
- Kenya black-headed oriole or tropical blackhead oriole (O. l. angolensis) – Neumann, 1905: Found from Angola and Namibia to western Tanzania and northern Mozambique
- O. l. tibicen – Lawson, 1962: Found from coastal southern Tanzania to coastal southern Mozambique
- Southern black-headed oriole (O. l. larvatus) – Lichtenstein, MHK, 1823: Found from southern Zimbabwe to inland southern Mozambique and eastern South Africa
- Eastern blackhead oriole (O. l. additus) – Lawson, 1969: Found in Eastern South African and southern Mozambique. Considered a synonym of O. l. tibicen and replacement name by the IOC.
Description
editThe 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
editIt 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
editThe black-headed oriole forages in the canopy, feeding on small fruit as well as large insects. The young are fed mostly with caterpillars.
Gallery
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![Tail-fanning is one element of oriole courtship[3]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Oriolus_larvatus_subsp_larvatus%2C_Lushof%2C_Naboomspruit%2C_b.jpg/120px-Oriolus_larvatus_subsp_larvatus%2C_Lushof%2C_Naboomspruit%2C_b.jpg)
Tail-fanning is one element of oriole courtship[3] -
Individual in the Kruger Park, South Africa.
![Tail-fanning is one element of oriole courtship[3]](/wiki/File:Oriolus_larvatus_subsp_larvatus,_Lushof,_Naboomspruit,_b.jpg)
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References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "IOC World Bird List 13.1". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.13.1.
- ^ "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.
External links
edit- Black-headed oriole videos, photos and sounds – Internet Bird Collection
- Black-headed oriole – Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.