Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-headed Oriole
Oriolus larvatus
Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus) is a member of the Oriolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 66.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Oriolidae Figbirds, Old World Orioles, Piopios
- Genus Oriolus
- Species larvatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 66.1 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Oriolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Data Deficient
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-headed Oriole is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-headed Oriole is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus) is a member of the Oriolidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, s.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 66.1 g, with a wing length of about 13.4 cm and a tail of around 8.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-headed Oriole?
The Black-headed Oriole is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 66.1 g.
Where does the Black-headed Oriole live?
The Black-headed Oriole is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, s, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-headed Oriole belong to?
The Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus) belongs to the Oriolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-headed Oriole eat?
The Black-headed Oriole is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Black-headed Oriole migrate?
The Black-headed Oriole is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-headed Oriole endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-headed Oriole make?
1 real field recording of the Black-headed Oriole — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-headed Oriole's range?
The Black-headed Oriole has a mapped global range of about 6.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Oriolidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.