Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Western Oriole
Oriolus brachyrynchus
Western Oriole (Oriolus brachyrynchus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Western Oriole (Oriolus brachyrynchus) is a member of the Oriolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 49 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 brachyrynchus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 49 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Oriolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Western Oriole is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Western Oriole is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Western Oriole (Oriolus brachyrynchus) is a species of bird in the Oriolidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 49 g, with a wing length of about 11.4 cm and a tail of around 8.3 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 2.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Western Oriole?
The Western Oriole is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 49 g.
Where does the Western Oriole live?
The Western Oriole is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Western Oriole belong to?
The Western Oriole (Oriolus brachyrynchus) belongs to the Oriolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Western Oriole eat?
The Western Oriole is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Western Oriole migrate?
The Western Oriole is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Western 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 Western Oriole make?
1 real field recording of the Western Oriole — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Western Oriole's range?
The Western Oriole has a mapped global range of about 2.6 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.
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Guides for this bird
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