Orioles (Oriolidae)
Eastern Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus) - HBW 13, p. 728
French: Loriot masqué
German: Maskenpirol
Spanish: Oropéndola Enmascarada
Other common names: (East) African Black-headed Oriole
Taxonomy: Oriolus larvatus M. H. C. Lichtenstein, 1823, “Terr. Caffror” = Cape Province, South Africa.
Closely related to and sometimes treated as conspecific with O. percivali, with which it mayhybridize in C Kenya, but the two differ in ecology and vocalizations; both belong to the “African black-headed group”, which also includes O. chlorocephalus, O. crassirostris, O. brachyrhynchus, O. monacha and O. nigripennis. Race additus formerly known by name tibicen, but that name invalid, as preoccupied. Nominate race and angolensis appear to intergrade clinally in Zimbabwe. Proposed race kikuyensis (from Na.. View all taxonomy...
Closely related to and sometimes treated as conspecific with O. percivali, with which it mayhybridize in C Kenya, but the two differ in ecology and vocalizations; both belong to the “African black-headed group”, which also includes O. chlorocephalus, O. crassirostris, O. brachyrhynchus, O. monacha and O. nigripennis. Race additus formerly known by name tibicen, but that name invalid, as preoccupied. Nominate race and angolensis appear to intergrade clinally in Zimbabwe. Proposed race kikuyensis (from Nairobi, in Kenya) is synonymized with rolleti. Five subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- rolleti Salvadori, 1864 - S Sudan, W & S Ethiopia, E DRCongo (to c. 2° S), Uganda, W & C Kenya, L Victoria Basin.
- reichenowi Zedlitz, 1916 - coastal forests of Somalia to E Tanzania (S to c. 9° S).
- angolensis Neumann, 1905 - Angola and N Namibia E to W Tanzania and N Mozambique.
- rolleti Salvadori, 1864 - S Sudan, W & S Ethiopia, E DRCongo (to c. 2° S), Uganda, W & C Kenya, L Victoria Basin.
- reichenowi Zedlitz, 1916 - coastal forests of Somalia to E Tanzania (S to c. 9° S).
- angolensis Neumann, 1905 - Angola and N Namibia E to W Tanzania and N Mozambique.
- additus Lawson, 1969 - coastal S Tanzania S to coastal S Mozambique.
- larvatus M. H. C. Lichtenstein, 1823 - S Zimbabwe, inland S Mozambique, Swaziland and E South Africa (S to S Western Cape).
- Least Concern Enlarge map
-
A bird moving in a tree Locality Turmi, Ethiopia (ssp rolleti)
Josep del Hoyo 14 December 2005 6 years ago 36 sec 4.6 -
A bird on top of a tree, singing. Locality Yabelo, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp rolleti)
Josep del Hoyo 12 December 2005 6 years ago 35 sec 4.4 -
A bird on top of a tree, singing and flying away. Locality Yabelo, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp rolleti)
Josep del Hoyo 12 December 2005 6 years ago 15 sec 4.2 -
An immature feeding on flowers Locality Matusadona National Park, Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe (ssp angolensis)
Greg Baker 7 September 1999 1 year ago 17 sec 3.8 -
A partially hidden adult feeding on flowers Locality Matusadona National Park, Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe (ssp angolensis)
Greg Baker 7 September 1999 1 year ago 30 sec 2.8
-
A bird with an insect on the beak.
Locality Kruger National Park, South Africa (ssp larvatus)
Hanne and Jens Eriksen 40 weeks ago 4.6 -
Perched in a tree
Locality Bahir Dar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia (ssp rolleti)
John A Thompson 16 January 2012 1 year ago 4.2 -
A nice male on a branch Locality South Africa (ssp larvatus)
gemaresi 3 years ago 4 -
Perched in a tree at Pretoriuskop Camp Locality Pretoriuskop, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Robert Erasmus 12 May 2011 1 year ago 3.4 -
Singing at Pretoriuskop Camp. Locality Kruger National Park, South Africa
Robert Erasmus 12 May 2011 1 year ago 3.3 -
Perched in a tree
Locality Kruger National Park, South Africa
Lindsay Hansch 16 October 2008 2 years ago 3
-
Calling from the canopy near the Big Tree. 12:30. Locality Wilderness National Park, Wilderness, Western Cape Province, South Africa
(ssp larvatus)
Charles Hesse 23 August 2010 2 years ago 4.5
