The common oriole (lat. Oriolus oriolus) breeds in Europe, Asia and North Africa. This is the only representative of the Oriole family (Oriolidae) living in a temperate climate. The remaining relatives of this bird live mainly in the tropics.

Behavior

Despite the fact that the oriole has bright plumage and a noisy character, it is very difficult to notice it in the thick of green foliage. Males have an amazing ability. Outside of the nesting season, they start their melodic trills only when the humidity of the air rises, foreshadowing imminent rain. Their singing is like a gentle sad voice of a flute. Females are completely devoid of musical hearing and can only make sounds that are somewhat similar to the chirping of a jay or magpie.

Orioles live high in the crowns of trees and almost never land on the ground. Most willingly, birds settle in birch and oak forests, as well as on groups of tall trees in parks and along river banks. Birds diligently avoid forest areas with a dense forest stand. Occasionally Orioles settle in pine forests. One pair occupies a fairly large area up to 25 hectares.

Birds feed on insects and their larvae, while with pleasure and without consequences for their health they eat many types of caterpillars that other birds avoid because of the poisonous hairs located on their bodies.

Orioles find food by jumping all day long on tree branches. In summer, different berries also appear on their menu. They especially like cherries and cherries. In August-September they fly to Africa.

reproduction

In the spring, males are the first to return to their homeland. They occupy home plots and begin to wait for friends flying from the south. Females appear 3-4 days after the arrival of males. Outside of the breeding season, orioles prefer to live in splendid isolation. True, occasionally there are couples who remain inseparable for a whole year.

After the arrival of the females, couples are formed within 3-7 days, after which the males choose a cozy place for the future nest and start building it. It is always located high above the ground in the horizontal fork of the trunk away from the trunk. The nest itself is a very skillfully woven basket.

The common oriole carefully glues the bearing elements of the structure with its own saliva to the fork of the branches. The female weaves the outer walls of the basket using vegetable fibers, scraps of rope, straw, plant stems, or tufts of wool from various animals.

As building material dry leaves and birch bark are also used. Inside the nest is lined with moss, wool and feathers. The female is engaged in finishing work for about 7-10 days. At the end of May, she lays 3-4 white, grayish-cream or pinkish eggs with brown or black spots and starts to incubate them.

In mid-June, offspring are born. For the first 5 days, the female does not part with the chicks, covering them with rain, cold and summer heat. Her husband brings her food, and she, in turn, crushes it with her beak and feeds it to the chicks. Later, both parents begin to feed the cubs.

At the age of 14-17 days, the chicks leave the nest, but, not being able to fly, sit on neighboring branches and wait for food from their parents. During this period, young orioles often become prey for predators or simply fall to the ground. Fallen chicks sometimes manage to slowly climb back up the tree, but in most cases they simply die of starvation. Parents continue to feed the offspring even after they are already on the wing.

Description

The body length of adult birds is about 24 cm, the wingspan is 44-47 cm. The whole body is covered with bright yellow feathers. From the base of the beak to the eyes stretches a dark, mask-like stripe.

Flight wings are black and yellow with borders along the edges. Small yellow spots are visible at the ends of the outer tail feathers of the black tail. The strong beak is painted in dark red color. The iris of the eyes is carmine red.

Three fingers point forward and one back. All fingers are armed with sharp claws. Thin paws are painted in dark color.

The life expectancy of the common oriole is about 8 years.

Oriole, oriole... Only the most indifferent cannot be touched by her magical trills! How much do we know about this songbird? All about Orioles and Orioles in our article.

Representatives of this species of birds do not exceed 23-30 cm in length, and weigh only 100 g.

The length of the beak is equal to the length of the head, it is elongated, has a slightly convex mandible and open nostrils. The wings of Orioles, relative to the body, are long and sweeping. The tail is slightly shorter, blunt at the tip, consists of 12 tail feathers. The paws of birds are strong.

Orioles are distinguished by their bright coloration: basically their plumage plays with black, yellow or greenish colors. Once a year there is a molt.

Birds live in trees. Most representatives of this species have a loud voice, reminiscent of the sounds of a flute.

The Oriole family consists of more than 30 species, which are divided into two genera. Orioles are most common in the tropics and subtropics, including Africa, Asia, Australia and parts of Europe.

Birds make nests shaped like a bowl. The construction of the dwelling takes place in the branches of trees high above the ground. Oriole clutch consists of 3-5 brightly colored eggs.

The diet of these birds is dominated by a variety of insects, which Orioles collect in the crowns of trees, as well as small fruits.

Oriole

These birds are widespread in European countries, with the exception of the northernmost regions, in the Asian and Siberian outskirts. Orioles migrate to Central and South Africa, Madagascar, India and Ceylon for the winter.

Oriole, although they call it ordinary, is a completely unusual, beautiful bird. The color of the male is dominated by golden yellow colors, and a black stripe stretches from the base of the beak to the eye. The wings are black with a yellow spot. Females are distinguished by a yellowish-green color on the upper side of the body, on the underside - a grayish-white pattern. In young birds, the plumage is more faded.

Listen to the voice of the oriole

Orioles return to their homeland late, by the end of April or May, and males arrive earlier than females. After their return, the pairing begins. Orioles love birch and oak forests, with a dry climate, in which they build their nests. Sometimes the dwellings of these birds can be found in pine or mixed forests, gardens or in thickets on the banks of rivers. The height of the nest is from 7 to 15 meters.

By the end of May - beginning of June, laying occurs, in which 4-5 eggs are located, painted white with small black or brownish-brown spots of irregular shape. The chicks are incubated exclusively by the female. After 2 weeks of incubation, chicks begin to hatch. After another 2-2.5 weeks they leave the nest.

The oriole is considered a useful bird: it eats forest pests in large quantities - these are hairy caterpillars, which other birds do not eat because of poisonous hairs

African black-headed oriole

African black-headed orioles are the smallest of the entire family. The length of their wing is 12-15 cm. The color of the dorsal part is olive-golden-yellow, the head, wings and neck are black. The belly is golden yellow. The African oriole can be found in the tropical forests of Africa, in Ethiopia. Orioles nest high in the trees. Their masonry is bowl-shaped. Closer to equatorial African range in the clutch of the oriole there are only 2 eggs, and in the northern part - up to 4. The eggs are white-pink, as if strewn with reddish-brown drops. The diet of the African oriole contains both caterpillars and seeds, but mostly fruits, so it is considered a pest of fruit plantations.

Chinese black-headed oriole

Chinese black-headed orioles are common in the Indian, Siberian and Far Eastern regions. Basically, these are tree birds that inhabit broad-leaved, mangrove forests, old park and garden areas, even in city centers. Orioles feed on insects and small fruits.

The common oriole is a shy bird that lives hiding in the canopy of trees. The song of the male oriole resembles the sounds of a flute. A frightened bird makes a sharp unpleasant sound. Video and photo

Detachment - passeriformes

Family - Orioles

Genus/Species - Oriolus oriolus. Oriole

Basic data:

DIMENSIONS

Length: 24 cm

BREEDING

Nesting period: May-July.

Number of eggs: 2-5.

Incubation: 14-15 days.

Feeding chicks: 14-15 days.

LIFESTYLE

Habits: oriole (see photo) - a solitary bird that lives on trees with a dense crown.

Food: insects, larvae, caterpillars, fruits, berries.

Lifespan: no data.

RELATED SPECIES

The oriole family consists of 30 species and, in addition to the common oriole, it includes the African black-headed, striped, Chinese black-headed orioles.

The common oriole is one of the representatives of the oriole family, which flies to the south for the winter. In spring, the oriole returns to nesting sites located in Europe and Asia. The birds are solitary, but they migrate in small flocks. Males and females travel separately, birds rest in deciduous forests.

BREEDING

The male oriole, who arrived at the nesting site, announces himself with loud singing, reminiscent of the sound of a flute. The function of spring singing is the designation of the occupied territory. The male defends his possessions from competitors. Females arrive at nesting sites 2-3 days later than males. At this time, the birds break into pairs - the old "marriage unions" are restored and new ones are formed. The pairs then look for places to build their nests. Orioles build hammock nests at the ends of the upper branches of trees, with females doing most of the work. The base of the nest is woven in a fork of bast branches and grass stalks, after which it is fastened with saliva. A hanging nest-basket or, as it is often called, a "hammock" is attached to the base. The tray is lined with grass, wool and feathers. The female lays 2-5 eggs. After 14-15 days, chicks hatch from the eggs. Parents tirelessly bring their babies food rich in protein, mainly insects.

WHERE Dwells

The life of the oriole passes high in the trees, the bird descends to the ground only to collect food. In summer, the oriole settles in European forests, parks and orchards located near water bodies. Despite the fact that orioles prefer birch and oak forests, where the sun's rays warm the ground well, they are sometimes found in sparse pine or mixed forests. These birds rarely settle above 600 meters above sea level. Some species in the Oriole family are sedentary. The oriole is one of the few species that spend the winter away from their homeland. At the end of September, European populations set off towards Africa. Oriole wintering grounds are African forests south of the equator, covering spaces from the Congo and Kenya in the east to South Africa. European and North African Orioles usually winter on the east coast of Africa. Scientists distinguish two subspecies of the oriole - the first winters in Africa, and the second flies to India and Sri Lanka for the winter.

FOOD

The food for the Oriole is both insects and fruits. At the beginning of summer, when chicks are born, orioles mainly hunt insects and their larvae. Birds also feed on spiders and slugs. Orioles enjoy eating caterpillars (especially hairy caterpillars, which other species do not eat because of the poisonous hairs that cover the body of the caterpillar).

In the second half of summer, forest fruits ripen, and orioles feast on wild cherries and mulberry seedlings. These timid birds sometimes search for food on the ground. With its long sharp beak, the oriole catches insects and pecks out the pulp of fruits and berries. On wintering grounds, fruits, seeds of plants and insects become food for birds.

• Trupial, who live in North America, are often also called Orioles, although they have nothing in common with real representatives and from the Oriole family.
• The common oriole is the only species in the genus that does not nest in the tropics.
• The nest of the common oriole is located at a height of 5-25 m from the ground.
• Orioles are among the last to arrive at nesting sites, when the trees already have fairly dense foliage. The males arrive first, the females appear later.
• The scientific name of the species comes from the Latin word meaning "made of gold". Such a name is very suitable for the beautiful golden-yellow bird Oriole.

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF ORIOLGA. DESCRIPTION

Female: its plumage is not as bright as that of the male. The abdomen of the female is grayish-white or pale green, the back is yellowish-green.

Beak: a long, strong and sharp beak is perfect for preying on fruits and insects hiding under the bark of trees.

Carrying: in laying from 2 to 5 white eggs with dark speckles. Parents incubate them for two weeks.

Male: golden-yellow color prevails; a black stripe runs from the beak to the eye. The wing is black with a yellow spot.

- Nesting sites
- wintering

WHERE Dwells

The common oriole breeds in northeast Africa, almost throughout Europe and western Asia. The bird winters south of the Sahara: in Western, Central and South Africa.

PRESERVATION, PROTECTION

The common oriole is very common in the forests of Central Europe, but during seasonal migrations, tens of thousands of birds die in hunters' nets.

Oriole. Brateevograd. Video (00:01:10)

The common oriole is constantly seen in small numbers in Tsaritsynsky Park, on the territory of the Brateevsky Cascade Park, in the Maryinsky Park, in the promenade area of ​​the Brateevsky Embankment, in the Brateevsky floodplain, in the parks of Maryino. They nest there, they wander there.
In spring and autumn, the oriole is seen in the area of ​​​​the famous bird ravine, along the bottom of which the Plintovka River once flowed.

Oriole.AVI. Video (00:00:53)

Common Oriole / Oriolus oriolus / Golden Oriole / Oriole. Video (00:01:24)

Oriole on Serpent's Island. Spring 2013
Golden oriole at Zmiiniy Island. Spring 2013

Orioles are one of the most beautiful birds of the middle lane, birds with heavenly voices. From a scientific point of view, only representatives of the genera Oriolus and Sphecotheres from the Oriole family have the right to carry such a name. Starlings, magpies, drongos and larvae are considered their close relatives. But historically, several species from the genus Icterus of the trupial family are also called orioles. This article will consider representatives of all three genera; there are about 30 species of them in the world.

Male Oriole (Oriolus oriolus).

Orioles do not differ in a variety of shapes and sizes, therefore they are easily recognizable among other passerine birds. These are feathered medium size: they reach 18-25 cm in length, weigh 30-100 g. Their plumage is adjacent, without any decorations, which gives them a special elegance. The beak is straight, of medium size, the mandible is slightly curved. The wings and tail are well developed, which makes them maneuverable and fast fliers. Sexual dimorphism in some species is well expressed, in others the difference in color between males and females is barely noticeable.

A female common oriole.

As a rule, females are painted modestly in olive or yellowish-green tones, often in their plumage there are streaks like thrushes.

In the striped oriole (Oriolus sagittattus), both sexes wear a motley outfit.

For males, pure and rich shades of yellow are most characteristic, combined with black wings and markings on the head. True, there are exceptions. For example, the silver oriole is dominated by black and white, the bloody and raspberry-breasted oriole is dominated by red and black, and the black oriole is generally one-colored.

Crimson-breasted Oriole (Oriolus cruentus).

By origin, all orioles are typical southerners. The greatest species diversity of these birds is observed in Asia and Africa, several species can be found in Australia. True northern inhabitants can only be called an ordinary oriole, widespread throughout Eurasia, and a "not-real" Baltimore oriole that lives in North America. Only two of these species are migratory, and the rest are sedentary. Orioles fly to Africa, India, Bangladesh for the winter, and Baltimore - to South and Central America. But even these northerners demonstrate their pampered disposition. They arrive at the nesting sites very late - at the end of May, and are among the first to fly away at the end of August.

Male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula).

The southern origin of these birds also determines their adherence to certain habitats. Most of them clearly prefer moist, dense, but light forests. Among the African species there are lovers of open and dry landscapes (for example, the nun oriole, masked and African black-headed oriole). Even in Europe, common orioles try to settle primarily in deciduous forests, and only with a lack of territory - in mixed and coniferous forests. By way of life, these are diurnal birds that live in the upper tier of the forest. They almost never come down to the ground and do not look for food in the undergrowth. In general, Orioles are secretive and unsociable. It is likely that their behavior was affected by their lower fecundity compared to other passerine birds, forcing these birds to be more careful.

At the same time, Orioles compensate for their reserved nature with beautiful singing. The voices of all species sound very similar. The usual song consists of short flute-like "fu-fu" sounds, at the climax they turn into a more drawn-out "fiu-tiu-liu". These sounds are an integral part of the spring-summer trills that will not leave anyone indifferent ( listen ). At the same time, orioles are capable of making completely unexpected sounds. In case of danger, they scream like tattered cats. Juveniles squeak thinly. The flight of these birds is undulating, moderately fast, but if necessary, orioles can reach speeds of up to 70 km / h.

Orioles diet consists mainly of insects harvested in the thick of crowns. Here they catch spiders, dragonflies, butterflies, longhorn beetles, bed bugs, beetles, ground beetles, large mosquitoes and flies. There are many pests among these species, but the use of orioles also lies in the fact that they prey on hairy caterpillars, which most birds avoid. Along with orioles, only cuckoos can destroy such caterpillars. In addition to insects, these birds do not disdain the juicy fruits of cherries, currants, grapes, bird cherry, palm trees, and ficus. In species such as the Baltimore, African black-headed and fig orioles, the proportion of plant foods in the diet is especially high.

Fig orioles (Sphecotheres viridis) sunbathing. This species got its name for the love of figs.

Orioles are monogamous birds. Outside the breeding season, they are more often found alone, but during the mating season, the male and female are inseparable. Males attract their chosen ones by singing loudly at the end of a branch, jumping and spreading their tail. Opponents are driven away with bitterness. Females, on the other hand, respond to cavaliers by fluttering their wings and twitching their tail. The future cradle for the chicks of the orioles is invariably twisted on high altitude at the ends of thin branches where predators cannot reach. It has been noticed that they prefer to equip their nests on elms, maples, poplars, apple trees, nuts, willows. Both parents participate in the construction. For home improvement, the thinnest and softest bast fibers, blades of grass, leaves, moss, scraps of wool are taken. The nest is a neat cup, with two ends attached to the branches and, as it were, semi-suspended in their fork. In tropical species, the construction of the nest may be more massive, in which case it resembles an elongated string bag hanging on large leaves of trees.

Clutch of Chinese Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus chinensis).

It is noteworthy that all species of orioles, even nesting in evergreen forests, have only one, less often two clutches per year. The number of eggs laid is also relatively small (2-5 pieces). Eggs are beige with small ocher speckles. Incubation lasts 13-15 days, and only the female incubates, and the male replaces her only during the hottest hours. But both parents feed the chicks, flying to the nest with food up to 100 times a day.

Baltimore oriole chicks.

Babies react to such abundant feeding with rapid growth, already two weeks after birth they do not fit in the cup-nest and are seated along its edges. Around this time, they begin to fledge.

All this is an oriole. This bird is one of the most beautiful in the world. In addition, she is the best songstress of Russian forests! Her trills are reminiscent of playing the flute. It is almost impossible to see this bird, because it always hides in dense foliage. By the way, in June, the oriole begins to make wild cries, like a cat whose tail has been stepped on. This is her battle cry, serving as a warning of danger.

Oriole - However, from the south, she returns to Russia later than the rest - in May, when the trees are already green, with might and main rustling with their foliage. And the oriole flies to warmer climes earlier than all other types of migratory birds!

Feed

Oriole is a useful bird! She eats a huge variety of harmful insects, benefiting plants and humans. The bird catches its prey in flight, and also collects on the ground and along the trees. Sometimes she is not averse to eating spiders or small snails. Interestingly, orioles and cuckoos are the only birds that destroy a special kind of harmful caterpillars that other birds cannot stand! At the end of summer, our feathered beauty becomes "herbivorous": she eats small fruits of trees, such as cherries, as well as pears and berries ...

Habitat

To date, this bird is inhabited throughout Europe to the very south of England and Sweden. It is also distributed in the forests of Southwestern Siberia. In general, the oriole is a bird (photo No. 2) very common almost all over the world! Just think: northwest Africa and also southwest Siberia and all of Europe! By the way, its tropical origin is explained simply: it's a migratory bird! Moreover, in our area it does not linger for a long time. Already in August, they disappear from their nesting places, flying away from cold Russia to distant Russia. Here she is - an oriole!

Which cannot but please our ears, a lover of settling in old parks, gardens and alleys, as well as in thickets with rather tall trees along the banks of streams. Often it can be found in deciduous forests and light forests. Oriole tries to avoid coniferous and dense dark forests.

As mentioned above, in nature this wonderful bird is very difficult to notice. The oriole is a fearful and cautious bird. Therefore, it sticks to dense foliage and only on very tall trees! There she nests. Her nest looks like the most common basket of grass stalks, leaves, birch bark and other natural "building materials". There are no more accurate builders among the birds of her size than herself! Usually the female lays 3-5 eggs. Both parents participate in incubation. A month - and the chicks fly out of the nest! By the way, the nest of this beauty, skillfully suspended in a green grove, is very difficult to find for a simple man in the street!

Some species of these birds are real cleaners! For example, the common oriole simply cannot live without constant bathing! This is her kind of "hobby". Ornithologists are touched by watching a bright yellow chick, which, like a lone swallow, plummets and rapidly falls from a height onto the surface of the water. This is a real happiness for all nature lovers!