Black-headed Oriole
Black-headed OrioleBlack-headed OrioleBlack-headed OrioleBlack-headed Oriole

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

Silhouette: L. Shyamal · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Samburu National Reserve
39 Verified sightings at Samburu National Reserve From 2019 to 2026
9,374 Verified sightings across all 46 parks From 2019 to 2026
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Black-headed Oriole

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.

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.

Five subspecies are recognised: Oriolus larvatus 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

Oriolus larvatus reichenowi – Zedlitz, 1916: Found from Somalia to eastern Tanzania Kenya black-headed oriole or tropical blackhead oriole (Oriolus larvatus angolensis) – Neumann, 1905: Found from Angola and Namibia to western Tanzania and northern Mozambique

Oriolus larvatus tibicen – Lawson, 1962: Found from coastal southern Tanzania to coastal southern Mozambique Southern black-headed oriole (Oriolus larvatus larvatus) – Lichtenstein, MHK, 1823: Found from southern... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Samburu National Reserve

Eurasian Golden Oriole
LC

Eurasian Golden Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oriolus oriolus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
African Golden Oriole
LC

African Golden Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oriolus auratus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
LC

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plocepasser mahali

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
LC

White-headed Buffalo-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dinemellia dinemelli

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-Weaver
LC

Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plocepasser donaldsoni

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Parrot-billed Sparrow
LC

Parrot-billed Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer gongonensis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Pink-breasted Lark
LC

Pink-breasted Lark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calendulauda poecilosterna

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Teita Fiscal
LC

Teita Fiscal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lanius dorsalis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Slate-colored Boubou
LC

Slate-colored Boubou

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius funebris

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~60%
2 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~50%
3 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~40%
4 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
5 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
6 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~30%
7 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
8 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
9 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
10 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
11 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~30%
12 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~30%
13 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
14 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~20%
15 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~20%
16 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
17 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
18 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~20%
19 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
20 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
21 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
22 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
23 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
24 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~10%
25 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
26 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
27 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
28 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
29 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
30 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
31 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
32 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
33 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
34 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
35 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
36 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
37 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
38 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
39 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
40 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
41 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
42 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
43 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
44 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
45 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
46 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Black-headed Oriole in Samburu National Reserve?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black-headed Oriole sighting in Samburu National Reserve, based on 39 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Black-headed Oriole in Samburu National Reserve?

June has the highest sighting rate for Black-headed Oriole in Samburu National Reserve in our monthly data.

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