Listen

Sound clips and movies require Adobe Flash player.

Latin name

Oriolus oriolus

Family

Orioles (Oriolidae)

Overview

Blackbird-sized the male has an unmistakable bright yellow body with black wings. A secretive bird which keeps to the high tree canopy, it can be heard, most often at dawn, giving its distinctive fluting whistle. It flies rather like a thrush - slightly undulating.

Where to see them

Very secretive and difficult to see. May be encountered an migration on the south or east coast of England, but best looked for in the poplar plantations at the RSPB's Lakenheath reserve in Suffolk.

When to see them

It mainly arrives in mid May and stays until August. Best looked for at first light in a suitable breeding area, particularly large poplar plantations near water. Listening for the song, which can be heard from May to July, is the best way to locate them.

What they eat

Insects

Estimated numbers

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

In the UK

Southern and Eastern England

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)

2 illustrations 12

Male

Female

Similar birds

Green woodpecker