Black-naped Oriole

The Black-naped Oriole, Oriolus chinensis, is a passerine bird belonging to the Oriolidae family. It is a medium-sized bird, predominantly golden with a broad black mask and nape. The male's central tail feathers are tipped with yellow, while the lateral ones are more broadly yellow. Females have a more greenish wing lining, and juveniles exhibit a streaked underside.

Identification Tips

Adult males and females are similar in appearance, but the female's wing lining is more greenish. The bill is a distinctive pink and stouter than that of the Indian golden oriole. Juveniles can be identified by their streaked underparts and dull greenish color with brown streaks.

Habitat

The Black-naped Oriole inhabits forests, gardens, and plantations, where it can be seen foraging in the canopy.

Distribution

This species has a wide distribution range across Asia, with several distinctive populations. It breeds in eastern Siberia, Ussuriland, northeastern China, Korea, Japan, and northern Vietnam. During winter, it migrates to tropical areas of Southeast Asia and is also found in Bangladesh, India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Behaviour

The Black-naped Oriole is known to feed on a variety of berries and insects. It exhibits a dipping flight and is often seen in the canopy. The species has been observed to aid in the dispersal of certain plant species, such as Ficus.

Song & Calls

The typical call is a nasal "niee" or "myaa," and the song is a fluty "iwee wee wee-leeow." The calls can vary between subspecies.

Breeding

The breeding season varies by region, with April to June being common, and January to March in the Nicobars. The nest is a deep cup located in a tree fork. Eggs are salmon pink with reddish spots and blotches. The female incubates the eggs alone, which hatch after 14 to 16 days.

Similar Species

The Black-naped Oriole can be confused with the Indian golden oriole, but the latter has only a short and narrow eye-stripe, whereas the Black-naped Oriole's stripe broadens and joins at the back of the neck.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists of berries, insects, and occasionally nectar from large flowers. They have also been known to be nest predators on smaller birds.

Conservation status

The Black-naped Oriole is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of population decline.