| African Golden Oriole | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Oriolidae |
| Genus: | Oriolus |
| Species: | Oriolus auratus |
The African Golden Oriole (Oriolus auratus) or African Oriole is a passerine bird that belongs to the family Oriolidae. It has a very large range. [1]
Description[]
The male is striking in the typical oriole black and yellow plumage, although the plumage is predominantly yellow, with solid black only in the flight feathers and tail center. There is a great deal of gold in the wings, which is a distinction from the Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus), which winters in Africa. The female is a drabber green bird, distinguished from the European species by more contrasting wings and black around the eye. [2]
Distribution and habitat[]
It occurs in large areas of sub-Saharan Africa, avoiding lowland forest and arid areas. In southern Africa it is fairly common in Zimbabwe and northerly Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia, scarce in the Limpopo Province. It prefers miombo (Brachystegia) as well as wild syringa (Burkea africana) woodland, but it may also move into more arid savanna and suburban gardens.
Behaviour[]
Breeding[]
The breeding season is from August to January. The nest is woven cup made of dry grass and plant detritus held together with spider web, about 8-9 cm wide and 5.0-5.5 cm deep. It is slung between the two branches of a fork, usually 5-13 metres above ground, well away from the main trunk of the tree. The female lays 2 to 5 eggs (usually 2-3), and the incubation period is about 17 days. The chicks stay in the nest for an average of 15 days and are fed by both parents. [3]
Feeding[]
It feeds on insects (like locusts, caterpillars and flies) and fruit (euclea, azadirach indica), mainly foraging among the tree canopy in mixed species flocks, occasionally coming down to ground level. [4]
Voice[]
The song is "weelo-tyoo-tyoowo" or "weelo-lo-weeluweeyu".