Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

A flash of brilliant gold, yellow and black, this striking songbird turns heads in woodlands across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Golden Oriole is a striking bird with vibrant plumage. Males display brilliant golden yellow bodies contrasted by jet-black wings and a distinctive black stripe through the eye. Their tails are yellow with black tips.

Females and juveniles are more subdued, with olive-green upperparts and greyish-white underparts streaked with dark lines. The female is also without the black mask worn proudly by the male. Both sexes have reddish-pink bills and bluish-grey legs.

Juveniles are similar to adult females, although generally duller and with heavier underpart streaking.

Size

Length

22cm to 24cm

Wingspan

44cm to 47cm

Weight

56g to 79g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Yellow Black

Secondary Colour

White Olive

Beak Colour

Pink Red

Leg Colour

Grey Blue

Primary Colour (Female)

Green Yellow

Secondary Colour (Female)

White Grey Olive

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey Brown

Leg Colour (Female)

Grey Blue

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Golden Oriole can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Golden Oriole can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Golden Oriole is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Golden Oriole is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Golden Oriole is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Golden Oriole can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Golden Oriole is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Golden Oriole is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Golden Oriole is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Golden Oriole is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Golden Oriole is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Golden Oriole is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Golden Orioles inhabit deciduous and mixed woodlands, preferring oak forests, riverine woods, and mature orchards. During the breeding season, they are widespread across Europe, western Asia, and parts of North Africa.

In winter, they migrate to sub-Saharan Africa. They are rare summer visitors in the UK, primarily found in small numbers in East Anglia and occasionally in southern England.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,400 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Golden Oriole. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons