Blackhooded Oriole

How to identify Black hooded oriole

Black hooded Oriole is a Passerine bird belongs to the family Oriolidae. It has golden yellow plume. Head is black and wings are of black and yellow as well as tail also. Colour of beak is pink red. Lives in pairs or in small group. Strictly arboreous rarely seen to come down to lower bushes or on the ground. Female had black hood but has greenish upper part.

Distribution of Blackhooded Oriole

Nomenclature of races in Indian subcontinent somewhat tentative because of uncertainty over precise location of type locality. Race " Reubeni" formerly listed as "andamanensis", but latter name preoccupied; perhaps better merged with " ceylonensis". Proposed race " thaicous" (koh-lak), in South West Thailand included in nominate. Five species currently recognized.
a) O.x.xanthornus: North India ( Himalayan foothills) and south Nepal to Maynamar and south China, south to north Thailand, north peninsular Malaysia and Indochina ( except north Vietnam) ; in winter south Malay peninsula and north sumatra.
b) O.x.maderaspatanus Franklin: Gangetic plain and peninsular India.
c) O.x.ceylonensis Bonaparte: Srilanka
d) O.x. Reuben Abdulali: Andaman island.
e) O.x. tanakae Nagamichi Kuriye: North east Borneo and adjacent island.

Call description of Black hooded oriole

Assortment of melodious and hard call. More common id fluty.

Habit and habitat

Very active and lively. Don't stay for a long time on one place. Always seen flying or following one another. Mainly seen in forests, orchard, garden amidst habitation. Lives mainly on fruits.

Scientific name : Oriolus xanthornus.

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