Black headed oriole

Introduction: Black-headed orioles (Oriolus larvatus) can be found in farmyards with tall trees, gardens, parks, edges of evergreen forests, coastal forest and closed-canopy savannah woodland. Usually observed singly or in pairs, although will mix with other groups at flowering or fruiting trees.

Distribution: Central north-eastern Namibia including Rundu and the Zambezi Region (formerly the Caprivi Strip).

Diet: Eats dragonflies, honey-bees, Emperor moths, dry seeds and some fruits.

Description: Glossy black head and neck, olive-yellow rump and upper tail coverts. Upper breast glossy black, with bright yellow undertail. Larvatus equals 'masked'.

Breeding: A grassy nest lined with coarse hair is loosely placed between stems of a horizontal fork of a thin branch, often secured with spider web. 2 or 3 eggs are laid between September and December and incubated for around 15 days.

Size: 25cm.

Weight: 65g.