Western Black-headed Oriole
Oriolus brachyrynchus
An Old World oriole with mostly yellow plumage, a black hood, and a red bill. Note the fairly plain olive-and-black wing with a small white patch along the front edge. Found in rainforest canopy at low and middle elevations. Similar to Black-winged Oriole and found in the same habitat, but distinguished by the olive-green rather than black center of the tail and by the white patch on the wing. Also similar to African Black-headed Oriole, but usually separated by habitat and range. Further distinguished by the wing pattern, which is plainer, without bold white feather edgings.
Identification
The western oriole measures 21 centimetres (8.3 in) in length, and weighs 42 to 57 g (1.5 to 2.0 oz). The adult upperparts are yellow-olive in colour; the head to upper breast is black, and the periphery of the wings has a small white patch. It has a brownish pink beak. The underparts are yellow. The tail feathers are black and have broad yellow tips.<p>The juvenile has olive upperparts. The head is olive, and the throat is streaked with yellow. It has a dusky beak, and black streaked breast.<p>It has a variety of fluty vocalizations such as uoo-uoo, uoo-dleeo, tioolioo, whee-whooliu, whoolioo, and too-too-tuloo which normally have detached notes, and are lower pitched than those of the black-winged oriole (Oriolus nigripennis). It also emits a harsh whit-cheeew-cheeew.
Taxonomy
The western oriole was first described in 1837 by the English ornithologist William John Swainson. Alternate names for the western oriole include the black-headed oriole (not to be confused with another species of the same name, Oriolus larvatus) and greenish-backed oriole. Two subspecies are recognized:<p>According to the genetic data, the western oriole and the green-headed oriole (Oriolus chlorocephalus) are sister species.
- Scientific name
- Oriolus brachyrynchus
- Authority
- Swainson, 1837
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Oriolidae
- Genus
- Oriolus
Range and habitat
The western oriole is native to the rainforests of Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Benin, and Ghana.<p>It is found in western and central Africa. It lives either individually or in pairs in canopies of lowland primary forests, secondary forests, forest clearings with shrubs, and forest edges.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
Since 1988, the western oriole has been rated as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. This is because it has a very large range and because its population is thought not to have declined by 30% over ten years or three generations. Although the population size has not been measured, it is thought to be more than the threshold required to warrant it a vulnerable rating. Habitat loss is one reason for its population decline.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Long-billed Pipit
Anthus similis
A large, slender pipit with considerable variation across its range. African and South Asian birds average browner, warmer-colored, and more heavily streaked on the breast than the grayer-toned Middle Eastern subspecies. All subspecies possess a pale eyebrow, a long tail, and a relatively long bill. As with many other pipits, can be frustratingly difficult to identify in the field; habitat and voice are important clues. Prefers dry, open areas with clumps of vegetation and scattered rocks and boulders, typically on slopes. Calls include squeaky sparrow-like chirps and sweet two-noted whistles. Song doesn’t quite sound like a song: a sequence of plaintive whistles, two-noted chirps, and other call-like vocalizations strung together with pauses in between.
Red-banded Flowerpecker
Dicaeum eximium
A tiny, constantly moving bird with a short bill. Head and back are grayish-brown, throat white. Has a red chest band, gray sides of the breast, a white belly with a black stripe, buffy cinnamon flanks, and a crimson rump. Mostly inhabits lowland and hill forest up to 1000 meters of elevation, avoiding open areas and coastal forest. Short bill eliminates confusion with sunbirds and myzomelas. Common call is a harsh “tzick.”
Carmiol's Tanager
Chlorothraupis carmioli
Large and chunky with stout dark bill. Nondescript plumage: entirely olive-green with slightly brighter yellowish throat and upper breast. Sexes alike. Compare with female Red-throated Ant-Tanager, which is somewhat more slender and longer-tailed, has a more contrasting pale throat, and paler legs. Found in lowlands and foothills, where small flocks move through lower and middle levels of humid forests. Often in mixed feeding flocks with other species. Occurs from eastern Honduras to extreme northwestern Colombia. Listen for its loud, fast, long-winded song of whistles and chips, along with grating squeaky scold calls.
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