Black-naped Oriole

Scientific Name: Oriolus chinensis
Malay Name: Kunyit Besar
Chinese Name: 黑枕黄鹂

Range:
Breeding Range: (OR) widespread

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: diffusus, andamanensis, macrourus, maculatus, mundus, sipora, richmondi, lamprochryseus, insularis, melanisticus, sangirensis, formosus, celebensis, frontalis, stresemanni, boneratensis, broderipi, chinensis, yamamurae, suluensis.

Local Subspecies: diffusus, maculatus

Size: 24.5-27.5 cm

Identification:
Golden-yellow medium-sized bird with a broad black band across eye and hindcrown. Iris reddish, bill pink. Most of wings black. Subspecies diffusus told apart from nominate race as tertials and inner secondaries yellow on outer edge rather than black. 

Habitat: Widespread. Urban parks, scrub, degraded forests, forests, mangroves.

Behaviour/Ecology: Omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of food such as fruits and insects. Sometimes joins mixed flocks in fruiting trees.

Local Status: Common resident (maculatus) and rare migrant (diffusus)

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2018)

Location: Widespread, including Central Catchment Forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Dairy Farm Nature Park and Kent Ridge Park.

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Past accepted records in our database: (not a complete listing)

Black-naped Oriole. Photo Credit: Zahidi Hamid

Black-naped Oriole at Jelutong Tower. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Juvenile Black-naped Oriole at Pasir Ris Park. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Black-naped Oriole at Telok Blangah Hill Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Black-naped Oriole at Telok Blangah Hill Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap