Passeriformes / Oriolidae / Oriolus
Indian Golden Oriole
Oriolus kundoo · 印度金黄鹂
Introduction
A species of oriole found in the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia. Formerly considered a subspecies of the Eurasian golden oriole, it is now recognized as a full species based on morphological, plumage, vocal, and genetic differences. It inhabits diverse wooded habitats and is a partial migrant.
Description
Very similar to the Eurasian golden oriole but with more yellow in the tail and a paler shade of red in the iris and bill. Adult males have a black eye stripe extending behind the eye, a large carpal patch on the wing, and wide yellow tips to the secondaries and tertiaries. Females have sharper streaks on the underside than Eurasian counterparts. Adult male wing length is 136–144 mm, smaller than the European species. The wing formula differs, with primary 5 longer than primary 2.
Identification
Distinguished from the Eurasian golden oriole by the black eye stripe extending behind the eye. Smaller size with adult male wing length of 136–144 mm compared to 149–162 mm in the Eurasian species. Wing formula shows primary 5 longer than primary 2, whereas the reverse is true for the Eurasian species. Paler red iris and bill, and more yellow in the tail are also key markers.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds from Baluchistan and Afghanistan along the Himalayas to Nepal, with some local breeding in the peninsular region. Northern populations winter in southern India, with some reaching Sri Lanka. Populations in the Maldives and Andaman Islands are present but not carefully examined. Inhabits open deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, woodland, forest edges, mangroves, open country with scattered trees, parks, gardens, orchards, and plantations.
Behavior & Ecology
Flight is dipping but strong, reaching speeds of about 40 km/h (25 mph). Sometimes bathes by flying repeatedly into small pools. A partial migrant; Indian populations are largely resident while others migrate. Breeding season is April to August. Nests are small cups placed in branch forks, often near black drongo nests. Clutch consists of two or three white eggs with reddish, brown, and black speckling. Both parents care for young and defend against intruders like shikras and crows. Diet includes fruits, nectar, and insects; recorded preying on southern flying lizards and dispersing seeds of plants like Lantana camara.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Oriolidae
- Genus
- Oriolus
Distribution
breeds southern Kazakhstan eastward to eastern China and southward to central Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, Nepal, and central India; witners to southern India and Sri Lanka
Vocalizations
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
