The green-headed oriole (''Oriolus chlorocephalus''), or montane oriole, is a species of

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

in the family Oriolidae. It is found in eastern Africa.

Taxonomy and systematics

Subspecies

Three

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

are recognized: * ''O. c. amani'' -

Benson Benson may refer to: Animals *Benson (fish), largest common carp caught in Britain Places Geography Canada *Rural Municipality of Benson No. 35, Saskatchewan; rural municipality *Benson, Saskatchewan; hamlet United Kingdom * Benson, Oxfordshire ...

, 1946: Found in south-eastern Kenya and eastern Tanzania * ''O. c. chlorocephalus'' - Shelley, 1896: Found in Malawi and central Mozambique * ''O. c. speculifer'' - Clancey, 1969: Found in southern Mozambique

Distribution and habitat

Its natural

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s are subtropical or tropical, dry lowland

forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

s and subtropical or tropical moist

montane forest Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial f ...

Behaviour and ecology

They feed on fruit, seeds, nectar and insects or insect larvae.

Gallery

Oriolus chlorocephalus subsp speculifer, Gorongosa, Birding Weto, a.jpg, O. c. speculifer'' is endemic to

Mount Gorongosa Mount Gorongosa is an inselberg in Sofala Province of central Mozambique. Its highest peak, Gogogo, reaches an elevation of 1,863 meters (6,112 feet). It was created by Karoo Volcanism. The upper zone of the mountain (above 700 meters) was mad ...

, Mozambique Green-headed Oriole specimen RWD.jpg, ''O. c. amani'' specimen at

Nairobi National Museum The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) is a state corporation that manages museums, sites and monuments in Kenya. It carries out heritage research, and has expertise in subjects ranging from palaeontology, archeology, ethnography and biodiversity ...

References

External links

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green-headed oriole The green-headed oriole (''Oriolus chlorocephalus''), or montane oriole, is a species of bird in the family Oriolidae. It is found in eastern Africa. Taxonomy and systematics Subspecies Three subspecies are recognized: * ''O. c. amani'' - Be ...

Birds of East Africa

Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Oriolidae-stub