Golden Oriole | Wildlife

The Wildlife | Golden Oriole | The powerful fluting whistle of a Eurasian Golden Oriole can be heard in forests and lowland wooded areas near to rivers as this is their favourite habitat. Considering the males bright tropical coloring they can be incredibly hard to see when perched in the trees as they meld in with the lights and shadows of the leaves, they are shy and agile with an undulating flight. Similar to a thrush in size and form but the male has a bright yellow body with contrasting black wings and tail. There is a black mark between eye and beak (lore) and a yellow mark on the wing, the bill is reddish. The females and juveniles are more similar in colouring to a green woodpecker with an olive green back and off-white breast with fine streaks and an overall more pale appearance.

They arrive in Iberia in mid April from their wintering grounds in tropical Africa and if the weather is warm and dry they chase each other noisily through the trees with great agility. As well as the beautiful song they also have a very tuneless squawk. Orioles are most visible and audible in the early mornings, becoming quieter through the heat of the day. Their return migrational journey is mid August through into September. Insects and berries make up their diet and they have a strong liking for figs for which they are prepared to come out of the tree canopy and warily feed close to habitation. Otherwise they choose areas of very tall trees in which to perch and their nests are also set high in a fork within the canopy. We have noted that the males will pursue passing Sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus) from their territory chastising them constantly.

Male Golden Orioles are spectacularly colourful but if it wasn't for their distinctive far-carrying songs they could easily be overlooked. The adult male is unmistakably, startlingly yellow apart from jet black wings and tail and a blood red beak. The female is greener and streaked below, distinctive enough when seen perched, but having similar colours to a Green Woodpecker in flight. The oriole though is smaller with blacker more pointed wings and yellow corners to the tail.

 Golden Oriole

 Golden Oriole

 Golden Oriole

 Golden Oriole