Oriole

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Oriole
Golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus), male

Golden oriole ( Oriolus oriolus ), male

Systematics
Subclass : New-jawed birds (Neognathae)
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
without rank: Eupasseres
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Superfamily : Corvoidea
Family : Oriole
Scientific name
Oriolidae
Vigors , 1825
Black-necked pyrole
( Oriolus chinensis )
Black-eared Spiral
( Oriolus auratus )
Black winged pyrole
( Oriolus nigripennis )

The oriole (Oriolidae) are a family of the passerine birds (Passeriformes). They are about the size of a blackbird and very colorful. Most species live in the tropics of the Old World , from Africa to South and East Asia to Australia . Only the golden oriole ( Oriolus oriolus ) lives in Europe .

description

Orioles are medium-sized, elongated and quite powerful songbirds . They have a relatively strong, pointed beak and comparatively short but very strong legs and toes. The wings are pointed.

The representatives of the family show a very strong gender dimorphism . The males are very brightly colored and rich in contrast. In most species, the body is bright yellow with sharply defined black markings on the head and on the wings or tail. The males of some species in Southeast Asia are black and show red or silver-white markings. The females are basically colored similarly to the males, but the upper side of the body is usually greenish, the underside is usually lightened. Females are therefore much less contrasty and less noticeable overall. Young birds that have just flown out are similar to the females, but usually also show stripes.

distribution and habitat

The total of around 28 species of the family live predominantly in the tropics of the Old World , according to Glutz von Blotzheim and Bauer 6 species occur in Africa, 16 in Southeast Asia and 4 in Australia. Only one species each inhabits the temperate and Mediterranean zones in the east and west of the Palearctic ; in the west this is the golden oriole , in the east the black-necked pyrole ( Oriolus chinensis ).

Orioles are closely tied to open and semi-open forests and stay there almost exclusively in the treetops. Despite their striking plumage, they are therefore rarely seen.

nutrition

As far as is known, the diet consists predominantly of insects, especially caterpillars, and some species also use fruits and nectar .

Reproduction

Orioles build cup-shaped hanging nests in the treetops, which are laid out in horizontal branch forks. The eggs are pure white or yellowish brown with dark spots. The nestlings are brownish in color.

Systematics

Up to 4 genera are included in this family, but mostly only two: Oriolus and Specotheres . The assignment of two other genera (the elven blue birds ( Irena ) and Tylas eduardi ) to this family is controversial.

The internal system of the family is also discussed controversially. Depending on the author, the family includes 28 ( Oriolus with 24 species and Specotheres with 4 species) to 40 species ( Oriolus with 27 to 36 species). A comprehensive systematic treatment of the family was last carried out in 1962, some controversies within the systematics of the Asian oriole were last summarized by CE Dickinson. A molecular genetic investigation into the systematics of the oriole is not yet available. The following list follows ITIS, the German names follow Avibase.

swell

literature

  • Einhard Bezzel: The oriole . Blüchel and Philler, Munich 1989. ISBN 3-7907-0447-4 .
  • Urs N. Glutz von Blotzheim and Kurt M. Bauer: Handbook of the birds of Central Europe. Volume 13/2: Passeriformes. 4th part: Sittidae - Laniidae. Aula-Verlag, Wiesbaden 1993, p. 1069.
  • Klaus-Dieter Feige: The oriole . Ziemsen Verlag, Wittenberg 1985.

Web links

Commons : Oriole  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Glutz von Blotzheim & Bauer 1993
  2. a b Oriolus in the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
  3. a b Oriolus at Avibase
  4. JC Greenway Jr .: Family Oriolidae . In: E. Mayr & James Cowan Greenway Jr .: Checklist of birds of the world. XV. Cambridge / Mass. 1962: pp. 122-237
  5. ^ Dickinson, CE: Systematic notes on Asian birds. 42. A preliminary review of the Oriolidae. Zool. Verh. Leiden 350, 2004: pp. 47-63. Full text as PDF ( Memento from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  6. ^ Dickinson, CE, 2004