The oriole is a rare bird. Oriole bird: description, features and habitat. Range, habitats

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 birds of medium size: they reach a length of 18-25 cm, 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 chicks of orioles is invariably twisted at 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 are involved 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.

A small common oriole has a bright and showy appearance. It is by him that we distinguish it from any other bird. In the world of birds, she is the only representative of the Oriole family. In the article, we will talk in detail about the habitat, lifestyle, varieties, nesting period, food preferences and other features of the existence of this beautiful songbird.

Oriole (oriolus) belongs to the order "sparrow-like" and the genus "orioles". The size of the feathered is relatively small. The average body length of an adult does not exceed 25 cm, and the maximum weight reaches 90 grams.

Males and females differ significantly in appearance. Therefore, it is not difficult to distinguish between representatives of both sexes. The feathers of the males are bright golden, while the wings and tail are black. On the border of the tail and wings there are yellow blotches. In the beak area towards the eyes there is a peculiar black ornament resembling a bridle.

As for the females, their upper body is decorated with yellow-emerald plumage, brightening in the abdomen. The wings are grayish green and the beak is brownish red.

The young growth of the common oriole resembles females in the color of feathers. Chicks are distinguished only by the presence of duller shades of plumage in the lower part of the calf.

The life span of the oriole in the natural environment is from 8 to 15 years.

Locations and habitat

The common oriole is found in almost the entire territory of the Old World, western Asia, as well as in the European part of our country. It is noteworthy that on the islands of Britain, she nests reluctantly. The reason for this is not comfortable climatic conditions.

Orioles choose a wooded strip as habitat, where light tall deciduous trees grow. But these birds fly around the thick and dark thicket. Sometimes birds settle near a person. They are met in roadside forest plantations, squares, park areas and gardens.

The priority for the oriole, as for other creatures, is to provide uninterrupted power. If there is little food in the habitat, the birds are forced to regularly look for it in other areas. Therefore, they are rarely found in grassy forests with coniferous trees.

Varieties and their features

In nature, there are 24 species. Some of them differ slightly from each other, others have striking differences.

Common varieties of orioles:

• common is found throughout Europe, in the European part of Russia;
• the greenhead lives in Tanzania and Kenya;
• striped settles in Australia and New Guinea;
• Chinese black-headed, whose range is the countries of Asia in the South-East;
• the nun is found in Eritrea and Ethiopia;
• mask lives in the Sahara and on the African continent;
• the big-billed is common in Africa.

Individuals living in hot countries and regions with a mild climate lead a sedentary lifestyle. Here, the orioles do not experience a shortage of food and fresh water, so they do not need to make intercontinental flights.

Lifestyle features

Oriole is a migratory bird. In the fall, when her favorite delicacy - insects - disappear, the birds go to warmer climes for wintering. These are the southern zones of the Sahara desert, the African continent and warm Asia. Individuals, whose homeland is the countries of Europe with a temperate climate and Russia, return to their homes in early May.

The first heralds of warmth are males. After they find the optimal nesting site (3-4 days), females also return to their homeland. Outside the mating season, Orioles lead a solitary existence. Pairs can form and exist after nesting, but such cases are rare. Basically, they are polygamous and every year they are looking for a new partner or partner.

mating season

The male oriole, seeking attention from the opposite sex, behaves very assertively and persistently. He evokes the favor of the female not only due to his spectacular plumage. The main weapon in the mating season is a melodic and iridescent voice. We recognize him by his characteristic singing style of "fiiuu-fiiuu-fi" and "gee-gee-gee."

The formed pair builds a nest for offspring, which looks like a small herbal bag hanging from a branch. The male is looking for material, while the female takes over the construction.

One clutch does not exceed 3-5 eggs. Their color is beige-pink, brownish spots are found on the surface of the shell. While the female is incubating offspring, the parterre becomes the breadwinner and guardian of the family.

The appearance of chicks

The incubation time for eggs is 15 days. Newborn oriole chicks are born blind, and their plumage looks like a light soft fluff. Parents feed their offspring with caterpillars. As the young grow older, berries are gradually introduced into the diet.

Babies are very greedy and demanding. Therefore, the male and female fly away in search of food about a hundred times a day. Parents feed the chicks 15 times per hour.

This continues for 17 days. During this period, Oriole chicks will grow up, get stronger, make their first attempts to fly and learn to independently search for food. After that, the young generation is completely ready for adulthood and the final departure from the nest.

Diet

Orioles are insectivorous birds. However, their menu also contains products of plant origin.

Oriole eats:

• caterpillars;
• tree beetles;
• bedbugs;
• mosquitoes;
• dragonflies;
• butterflies;
• some types of spiders;
• cherries, grapes, currants;
• bird cherry, pear, fig.

Carnivorous food is of great importance during the mating season, when the oriole spends a huge amount of physical energy.

It is extremely important for Orioles to regularly consume enough fluids. Therefore, birds often choose places of residence near sources with fresh water. In the forest zone, these are reservoirs and lakes. In the city - fountains and puddles.

Orioles sometimes practice marauding and destroy the nests of other birds that are larger than them in body size. Their victims are the gray flycatcher and the redstart.

wild or domesticated

Due to the spectacular variegated plumage and pleasant voice, people show an increased interest in the oriole. Therefore, many times they tried to accustom the bird to life at home. But such attempts are practically unsuccessful, since the birds are shy and cautious in communicating with humans.

In addition, the oriole is demanding on food, since it produces it on its own. Mixtures for birds from pet stores do not fully meet the needs of the bird. If the pet is suspicious of the food given out by the owner, then in captivity it will prefer starvation.

As a result, an eating disorder appears, often leading to the death of the pet. An obvious conclusion follows from this: the oriole is a bird that lives in nature, so it is not recommended to tame it.

Oriole's voice is charming and melodic. It is compared to the sound of a flute. Listening to the trills of this bird is recommended for patients of psychologists and psychotherapists. Practice sound therapy if you suffer from neuroses, depressive states or despondency.

Orioles love to bathe and do so several times a day. Water places in the habitat are mandatory for them.

Finding the Oriole in the wild is not easy. The fact is that she settles high in the trees. And you can see this not a large bird only with the use of special equipment.

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The oriole is a yellowish green bird. The male Oriole is a handsome man: his plumage is golden yellow with black wings and a black tail. Small yellow spots are visible along the edge of the tail and on the wings. From the beak to the eye there is a black stripe - the "bridle". The females are "dressed" modestly: they have a greenish-yellow top and a whitish bottom with dark longitudinal streaks, greenish-gray wings.

The beak of the oriole is brown or reddish-brown, quite long and strong. The iris is red.

The Oriole's song is quite long: it begins with quiet sounds, barely distinguishable even at a close distance, alternating with creaking and chirping, and ends with a short flute whistle ("fitiu-liu").

They call the oriole and the "forest cat", and that's why. A disturbed bird, interrupting its drawn-out singing, makes an unpleasant sound, reminiscent of the cry of an angry cat.

Among the branches of shrubs, the oriole can be distinguished by its bright yellow golden tail. She settles in pine forests, in birch and oak groves.

It flies to us from hot Africa, from the shores of the island of Madagascar, and sometimes even from the Far North, but already in August, with its offspring, flies away again.

The bird builds a nest almost always on deciduous trees, attaching it to the upper branches. Outwardly, it is very similar to a basket lined with wood tone.

The nest tray, like all birds, is lined with birch bark, tufts of wool, and feathers.

In late spring - early summer, chicks will appear in the nest. They are very voracious. But two weeks later, despite the fact that the young birds are still very bad at flying, they will still be destined to leave their native nest and take care of themselves on their own. Orioles eat a lot of harmful caterpillars, bedbugs, beetles and large flies, and during the ripening of fruits and berries they also feed on fruits.

Oriole voice:

Text used:
A. Gorkanova. "Migratory and wintering birds of Russia. Thematic dictionary in pictures"
Artist: Ekaterina Reznichenko

Oriole- when a loud flute whistle is suddenly heard in the young greenery of the May grove, we note to ourselves: the orioles have already returned. These bright birds are one of the last to come to us from wintering grounds. In central Russia, this usually happens in mid-May. And from now on, the sonorous voice of the oriole will be heard almost until July itself. Moreover, by imitating the whistle of the oriole, we can lure the singer lurking in the foliage to a more open place or lure closer to us.

The Oriole is very easy to recognize, especially the male. We don't have another such bright yellow bird with black wings and tail and a coral-red beak. (Another species lives in the Far East - the Chinese black-headed oriole, which differs from the common black-headed oriole.) The female is painted more modestly, greenish on top, and the bottom (throat, chest, belly) is light, yellowish-white, streaked with dark longitudinal stripes. The size of an oriole is from a medium-sized thrush: length 25 cm, body weight about 80 g.

Orioles are an inconvenient object for the observer, because almost all the time they stay high in the crowns and almost never descend to the ground. And if they suddenly find themselves on the ground in order to pick up some blade of grass for the nest, then they move in very clumsy jumps and there are no noticeable traces on the forest floor. However, it is known that the supporting surface of the oriole's tarsus is about 4 cm long; the length of the 1st finger is 1.7 cm, the 2nd - 1.6, the 3rd - 2.2 and the 4th - 1.8 cm.

Orioles feed on invertebrates, and caterpillars of butterflies play almost the main role in their nutrition. They also eat large caterpillars of hawk moths, and caterpillars of silkworms covered with prickly hairs, and wavelets. Adult butterflies, both diurnal and nocturnal, are also caught. They eat beetles, large hymenoptera, like horntails or birch sawflies, orthoptera (fillies and grasshoppers). From the second half of summer, the fruits of cherries, bird cherry, and currants are pecked. And in the southern regions they eat cherries, grapes, figs. With such food, the orioles would have to shed their pellets in order to get rid of the hard chitinous covers of insects and the seeds of swallowed fruits, but for many years I have not found a single pellet of these birds and have not even seen their droppings (it is possible that it is simply lost in the grass ).

Perhaps in the southern regions, where orioles often stay in forest plantations on lower trees, it would be possible to find some traces, like pecked fruits. But in the middle lane, in the habitats of the ivory, you usually do not even find lost feathers - after all, old birds molt on wintering grounds.

Oriole nests are built mainly on deciduous trees - birches, alders, willows, aspens, oaks, pears, and most often high in the crowns.

The first nest I found, however, was in a pine tree that stood at the very edge of a forty-year-old plantation. It was located at a height of 9 m from the ground and 2 m from the trunk. Outside, it was twisted from dry stalks of cereals, and from below it very much resembled a nest of a mountain thrush. Arranged in the fork of a branch, it hung down under it in the form of a wicker basket, and the upper edges were firmly attached to the branches of the fork with bast fibers braiding them.

Inside the nest was lined with thinner dry blades of grass. The dimensions of this nest are: width 12.5 cm, height 9 cm and tray size 8×6.3 cm. On the first of June, when the nest was found, there were 3 eggs in it, apparently, an unfinished clutch, since the eggs were fresh. Full clutches of these birds usually contain 4-5 eggs. Oriole eggs are similar in size and shape to the eggs of a song thrush or starling, but their color is different - white with a barely noticeable pinkish tint and they are covered with rare black spots. Egg size 30×22 mm, weight about 40 g.

The literature indicates that sometimes orioles can build nests relatively low, 2-3 m above the ground, but in the middle lane I saw them at a greater height, not lower than 5-6 m. I found them on aspens, alder and oak, and they always located on the side branches, and were practically inaccessible for inspection.

After 2 weeks of incubation, chicks appear in the nest, blind, but covered with a long yellowish-white down. Very often, after the nestlings of songbirds have hatched, on the forest floor you notice the egg shells taken out of the nest by adult birds. I have repeatedly found the shells of eggs and thrushes, and starlings, and many other birds, but the shells of oriole eggs have never come across to me. Perhaps these birds do not take her out of the nest.

At the very end of June or in July, young orioles leave their nests, and from that time on, family flocks begin to roam over the tops of trees, calling to each other in thin voices. Sometimes it is possible to see how the birds cross the glades, flying from one edge of the grove to another. It would seem that orioles overcoming open spaces should have been a tempting bait for raptors. But, having looked through a lot of materials related to the nutrition of hawks, various falcons and other birds of prey, I did not find an ivory among their victims. The only time the oriole was found by me among the food remains of the black kite. But I doubt very much that the kite itself caught this bird. Most likely, he found her already dead or severely weakened. Or maybe he ate the remains of someone else's prey.

By the end of August, Orioles disappear from our places and fly to South Africa for wintering, and eastern bird populations to India.

Oriole belongs to the genus Oriole and forms a separate species that nests in the vast territory of Europe and Asia. In the north of its range, the bird is found in the southern regions of Scandinavia, and the southern border runs along the northern regions of Africa. In the east, the population extends up to the Yenisei and is limited from the south by the steppe regions of Kazakhstan, and from the north by the forest-steppe zone and deaf taiga regions. In autumn, migration to the central and southern regions of Africa is observed.

It is very difficult to see a bird from the ground, as it spends almost its entire life in the crowns of tall trees. Prefers light deciduous forests. He tries to choose birch and willow groves. It is also found in the crowns of poplars and much less frequently in pine plantations. Does not like deaf taiga jungle and mountainous terrain. Often settles near a person, using gardens and parks for their life.

The common oriole is a very beautiful bird. The body length reaches 23-25 ​​cm. The wingspan is 42-45 cm. The body weight ranges from 60 to 100 g. The body has an elongated shape. The beak is of medium length and strong. Its color is dark red. The plumage in color in females and males differs, that is, there is sexual dimorphism. The representatives of the stronger sex have bright yellow feathers. The tail and wings are black. The tail is edged with a yellow stripe; yellow spots and stripes are located on the wings. There are black stripes near the eyes.

The plumage of females is yellowish-green. The belly is lighter than the rest of the body. The wings are light green. There are no black lines around the eyes. Young birds have the same plumage as females. This pichuga is very fast, agile and silent. She quickly jumps from branch to branch in the dense crowns of trees. In flight it develops speed up to 50 km/h. The maximum speed is 65 km/h.

Reproduction and lifespan

These birds form pairs for life. They arrive at the nesting sites in mid-May. Males appear first, and after a few days, females join them. The nest is a hanging structure, which is attached to two parallel branches at a height of 3-20 meters from the ground and as far as possible from the trunk. The female is engaged in construction, the male only brings the material.

First of all, these are wood fibers and stems that form the basis of the nest. Birch bark, thin stems, leaves are intertwined between them. Outside, the nest is covered with moss, pieces of bark, birch bark. Moreover, the top coating or lining matches the color of the bark of the tree trunk on which the nest is built. Therefore, it practically merges with the general background and it is very difficult to notice it. The bottom of the nest is lined with feathers, grass, and wool. The diameter of the structure reaches 120-150 mm. The height is 50-90 mm.

The nest is always at an angle to the tree trunk, as the branches are raised. As the chicks grow, the structure lowers. First, it levels off, and then leans to the other side. By the time the chicks reach a large size, there is already a danger that they will fall out of their shelter, as the angle of inclination becomes critical. But this never happens, as the young have time to get on the wing and leave the nest on time.

The common oriole makes only one clutch during the summer. It usually contains 4-5 eggs. Incubation lasts 2 weeks. The female sits, the male brings her food. The couple changes places very rarely. Chicks are born blind and helpless. From above they are covered with sparse dirty-yellow fluff. Young people are growing fast and eating a lot. Parents only have time to bring them food.

After two and a half weeks, the chicks fledge. This happens at the end of June, beginning of July. By the beginning of August, young people become completely independent. At the end of August, the birds begin to leave their nesting areas and migrate to Africa. This species lives in the wild for an average of 7-8 years. The maximum life expectancy is 18-20 years.

Behavior and nutrition

These birds never fly in large flocks. They live either singly or in pairs. Males are very pugnacious and fight each other. This is especially true for the nesting period. Each couple has its own territory, into which strangers are not allowed. Pichugas feed on insects. These are a variety of beetles and caterpillars. All this living creatures are present in abundance in the crowns of trees.

When berries appear, they begin to occupy the main place in the diet. Strawberries, blackberries, cherries, raspberries, elderberries, cherries, currants - the oriole eats all this with pleasure. The vocal data of this species are well developed, and the sounds are very diverse. It can be a whistle, ringing, creaky sounds, as well as a jerky cry, somewhat reminiscent of a cat's meow.

Enemies

The population is kept at a stable level. There is no threat of destruction. Of the enemies, one can name a goshawk, peregrine falcon, kites. But birds of prey do not often attack these beautiful birds, as they are fast and swift. In addition, they are well camouflaged among the crowns of trees. Of the land animals, no one poses a direct threat. The relationship with the person is normal. The common oriole brings great benefits to the forest, destroying harmful beetles and other insects.