black-headed oriole
{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Hatnote|Not to be confused with an alternate name for the dark-throated, western and black-hooded orioles.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{speciesbox
| image = Oropéndola enmascarada (Oriolus larvatus), parque nacional Kruger, Sudáfrica, 2018-07-25, DD 29 (recortada).jpg
| image2 = Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus) (022A-WA03044X0032-0012M0).ogg
| image2_caption = Song recorded in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Oriolus
| species = larvatus
| authority = Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823
| range_map = Eastern black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus) IUCN range 2016.svg
| range_map_caption = {{leftlegend|border=1px solid #494946|#fccf0a| resident range}}
}}
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
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 recognised:{{Cite journal |title=IOC World Bird List 13.1 |url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/crossref |journal=IOC World Bird List Datasets |doi=10.14344/IOC.ML.13.1 |doi-access=free}}
- 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
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.
Gallery
Image:Waterbergoriolesdownsized.jpg|A pair in courtship ritual, riparian zone of central Waterberg, South Africa
Image:Oriolus larvatus subsp larvatus, Lushof, Naboomspruit, b.jpg|Tail-fanning is one element of oriole courtship{{cite web|title=HBW 13 – Family text: Oriolidae (Orioles and Figbirds)|url=http://www.lynxeds.com/family-text/hbw-13-family-text-oriolidae-orioles-and-figbirds|website=Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive|publisher=Lynx Edicions, Barcelona|accessdate=14 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519185633/http://www.lynxeds.com/family-text/hbw-13-family-text-oriolidae-orioles-and-figbirds|archive-date=19 May 2016|url-status=dead}}
Oropéndola enmascarada (Oriolus larvatus), parque nacional Kruger, Sudáfrica, 2018-07-25, DD 44.jpg|Individual in the Kruger Park, South Africa.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=7965 Black-headed oriole videos, photos and sounds] – Internet Bird Collection
- Black-headed oriole – [http://sabap2.adu.org.za/docs/sabap1/545.pdf Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds].
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1589193}}