African Golden Oriole

About the African Golden Oriole

The African golden oriole (Oriolus auratus), or African oriole, is a member of the oriole family of passerine birds which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara desert. It is a bird of thick bush and other well-wooded areas. The hanging basket-shaped nest is built in a tree, and contains two eggs. The food is insects and fruit, especially figs, found in the tree canopies where the orioles spend much of their time.

The name "oriole" was first recorded (in the Latin form oriolus) by Albertus Magnus in about 1250, and was stated to be onomatopoeic, from the song of the golden oriole. The New World orioles are similar in appearance to the Oriolidae, but are icterids unrelated to the Old World birds.

Two subspecies are recognized: Senegal golden oriole (O. a. auratus) - Vieillot, 1817: Found from Senegal and Gambia to western Ethiopia and southern Somalia South African golden oriole (O. a. notatus) - Peters, W, 1868: Originally described as a separate species. Found from Angola to central Mozambique

The male is striking in the typical oriole black and yellow plumage, although the plumage is predominantly yellow... Wikipedia →