African golden oriole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African golden oriole |
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| O. a. notatus Zambezi River, Zimbabwe |
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Oriolus
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| Species: |
auratus
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The African golden oriole (Oriolus auratus), also called the African oriole, is a beautiful bird. It belongs to the oriole family. This bird lives in Africa, mainly south of the Sahara Desert. It is a passerine bird, which means it's a type of perching bird.
African golden orioles prefer to live in thick bushes and areas with lots of trees. They build their nests like hanging baskets in trees. Inside, they lay about two eggs. These birds mostly eat insects and fruits, especially figs. They spend a lot of time high up in the tree canopies looking for food.
Meet the African Golden Oriole
The African golden oriole is a striking bird. It has bright yellow and black feathers. The male bird is mostly yellow. It has solid black feathers only on its wings and the middle of its tail. Its wings also have a lot of gold color. This helps tell it apart from the Eurasian golden oriole. The Eurasian golden oriole spends its winters in Africa too.
The female oriole looks a bit different. She is more of a dull green color. You can tell her apart from other similar birds by her wings, which have more contrast. She also has black feathers around her eyes. Orioles are quite shy birds. Even the bright male can be hard to spot. They blend in well with the yellow and green leaves in the treetops.
How They Fly and Sing
When an African golden oriole flies, it looks a bit like a thrush. Its flight is strong and goes straight. Over longer distances, it might have some small dips.
The sound of its call is a bit like a screech, similar to a jay. But its song is very beautiful. It sounds like a fluting fee-ooo fee-ooo. Once you hear it, you won't forget it!
Types of African Golden Orioles
Scientists recognize two main types, or subspecies, of the African golden oriole:
- Senegal golden oriole (O. a. auratus) - This type was first described by Vieillot in 1817. You can find it from Senegal and Gambia all the way to western Ethiopia and southern Somalia.
- South African golden oriole (O. a. notatus) - This type was first described by Peters, W in 1868. It was originally thought to be a separate species. This subspecies lives from Angola to central Mozambique.
