27-3-2025 LEOPARD TRAILS LODGE, SRI LANKA - BLACK HOODED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthornus)

The Black-hooded oriole (Oriolus xanthornus) is a colorful passerine bird that breeds in tropical southern Asia. These are birds of open woodlands and spend most of their time in the tree canopies.

The male of this species is striking, with the typical oriole black and yellow colouration. The plumage is predominantly yellow, with a solid black hood, and black also in the wings and tail centre. The female black-hooded oriole is a drabber bird with greenish underparts, but still has the black hood. Young birds are like the female, but have dark streaking on the underparts, and their hood is not solidly black, especially on the throat.

Black-hooded orioles breed from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia. They live in open woodlands, mangroves and cultivated areas.

Black-hooded orioles are shy, and even the male may be difficult to see in the dappled yellow and green leaves of the canopy. Their flight is somewhat like a thrush, strong and direct with some shallow dips over longer distances. Black-hooded orioles are diurnal and while foraging they use foliage-gleaning, wood-gleaning, or sallying methods.

Black-hooded orioles are carnivores (insectivores) and herbivores (frugivores). They feed on various insects and fruit, especially figs.

Little is known about the reproductive habits of Black-hooded orioles. They construct their nests in a tree, and females lay clutches of 2 eggs.

The black-hooded oriole (Oriolus xanthornus) is a member of the oriole family of passerine birds and is a resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia.

It is a bird of open woodland and cultivation. The nest is built in a tree, and contains two eggs. Its food is insects and fruit, especially figs, found in the tree canopies where they spend much of their time.

The male is striking, with the typical oriole black and yellow colouration. The plumage is predominantly yellow, with a solid black hood, and black also in the wings and tail centre.

The female black-hooded oriole is a drabber bird with greenish underparts, but still has the black hood. Young birds are like the female, but have dark streaking on the underparts, and their hood is not solidly black, especially on the throat.

The black head of this species is an obvious distinction from the Indian golden oriole, which is a summer visitor to northern India. Orioles can be shy, and even the male may be difficult to see in the dappled yellow and green leaves of the canopy.

The black-hooded oriole's flight is somewhat like a thrush, strong and direct with some shallow dips over longer distances.

While foraging the species uses foliage-gleening, wood-gleening, or sallying methods.

26-3-2025 YALA NAT PARK, SRI LANKA - BLACK HOODED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthornus)

The male is striking, with the typical oriole black and yellow colouration. The plumage is predominantly yellow, with a solid black hood, and black also in the wings and tail centre.

The female black-hooded oriole is a drabber bird with greenish underparts, but still has the black hood. Young birds are like the female, but have dark streaking on the underparts, and their hood is not solidly black, especially on the throat.

The black head of this species is an obvious distinction from the Indian golden oriole, which is a summer visitor to northern India. Orioles can be shy, and even the male may be difficult to see in the dappled yellow and green leaves of the canopy.

The black-hooded oriole's flight is somewhat like a thrush, strong and direct with some shallow dips over longer distances. 

Black-hooded orioles are shy, and even the male may be difficult to see in the dappled yellow and green leaves of the canopy. Their flight is somewhat like a thrush, strong and direct with some shallow dips over longer distances. Black-hooded orioles are diurnal and while foraging they use foliage-gleaning, wood-gleaning, or sallying methods.

Little is known about the reproductive habits of Black-hooded orioles. They construct their nests in a tree, and females lay clutches of 2 eggs.

Black-hooded orioles breed from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia. They live in open woodlands, mangroves and cultivated areas.

21-3-2025 WATER GARDENS, SUGIRIYA - BLACK HOODED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthornus)

The male is striking, with the typical oriole black and yellow colouration. The plumage is predominantly yellow, with a solid black hood, and black also in the wings and tail centre.

The female black-hooded oriole is a drabber bird with greenish underparts, but still has the black hood. Young birds are like the female, but have dark streaking on the underparts, and their hood is not solidly black, especially on the throat.

The black head of this species is an obvious distinction from the Indian golden oriole, which is a summer visitor to northern India. Orioles can be shy, and even the male may be difficult to see in the dappled yellow and green leaves of the canopy.

The black-hooded oriole's flight is somewhat like a thrush, strong and direct with some shallow dips over longer distances.

27-4-2024 KANHA, INDIA - BLACK HOODED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthornus)

The black-hooded oriole (Oriolus xanthornus ) is a member of the oriole family of passerine birds and is a resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia.

It is a bird of open woodland and cultivation. The nest is built in a tree, and contains two eggs. Its food is insects and fruit, especially figs, found in the tree canopies where they spend much of their time.

The male is striking, with the typical oriole black and yellow colouration. The plumage is predominantly yellow, with a solid black hood, and black also in the wings and tail centre.

The female black-hooded oriole is a drabber bird with greenish underparts, but still has the black hood. Young birds are like the female, but have dark streaking on the underparts, and their hood is not solidly black, especially on the throat.

The black head of this species is an obvious distinction from the Indian golden oriole, which is a summer visitor to northern India. Orioles can be shy, and even the male may be difficult to see in the dappled yellow and green leaves of the canopy.

The black-hooded oriole's flight is somewhat like a thrush, strong and direct with some shallow dips over longer distances.

While foraging the species uses foliage-gleening, wood-gleening, or sallying methods.