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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Family: Oriolidae (orioles)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class: Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia (terrestrial vertebrates) > Tetrapoda (four-legged vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota > Reptilia (reptiles) > Romeriida > Diapsida > Archosauromorpha > Archosauria > Dinosauria (dinosaurs) > Saurischia > Theropoda (bipedal predatory dinosaurs) > Coelurosauria > Maniraptora > Aves (birds) > Order: Passeriformes

Species indigenous to southern Africa

Oriolus auratus (African golden oriole) 

The African golden oriole occurs in large areas of sub-Saharan Africa, avoiding lowland forest and arid areas. In southern Africa it is widespread in the north, preferring miombo (Brachystegia) and broad-leaved Burkea woodland. It feeds on insects and fruit, mainly foraging among the tree canopy in mixed species flocks, occasionally coming down to ground level. The nest is woven cup made of dry grass and plant detritus held together with spider web, placed between the two branches of a fork, well away from the tree trunk.

Oriolus chlorocephalus (Green-headed oriole) 

Oriolus larvatus (Black-headed oriole) 

The Black-headed oriole is common and widespread, occuring throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from East Africa to southern Africa. It is quite adaptable, occupying a variety of habitats, including savanna woodland, parks, farmland and gardens. It eats a variety of invertebrates, fruit and seeds, often foraging in mixed species flocks in the tree canopy. The nest is deep cup of woven old-man's beard strands, moss and grass, place between stems of a fork in a slender tree branch.

Oriolus oriolus (Eurasian golden oriole, European golden oriole)