Black-headed oriole
Black-headed oriole | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
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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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.
Taxonomy and systematics
[edit]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
[edit]Five 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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]The 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]
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Exemplar in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
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.