Olive-backed Oriole in a tree.
Photo: K Vang and W Dabrowka / Bird Explorers © K Vang and W Dabrowka / Bird Explorers
Olive-backed Oriole.
Photo: Purnell Collection © Australian Museum
Olive-backed Oriole.
Photo: SG Lane Collection © Australian Museum
Distribution map of Oriolus sagittatus
Map © Birds Australia Birdata
Olive-backed Oriole
Scientific name: Oriolus sagittatus
Family: Oriolidae
Order: Passeriformes
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What does it look like?
Description
The Olive-backed Oriole is part of a worldwide family, of which Australia has two other members (the Yellow Oriole and the Figbird). Males and females have an olive-green head and back, grey wings and tail, and cream underparts, streaked with brown. They both have a bright red eye and reddish beak. Females can be distinguished from males by a paler bill, duller-green back, and an extension of the streaked underparts up to the chin.
Similar species
Olive-backed Orioles have a reddish bill, which easily distinguishes the species from the similar Figbird Sphecotheres viridis, which has a blackish bill. It also lacks the Figbird's bare eye skin and has red rather than dark eyes. The Yellow Oriole O. flavocinctus is generally more yellow overall.
Where does it live?
Distribution
The Olive-backed Oriole occurs across coastal regions of northern and eastern Australia from the Kimberley region in Western Australia, right around the east coast to Adelaide in South Australia.
Habitat
The Olive-backed Oriole lives in forests, woodlands and rainforests, as well as well-treed urban areas, particularly parks and golf courses.
Seasonal movements
Sedentary in the north of its range, but appears to be a summer migrant to the more southern part of its range. Small groups undertake nomadic movements, following fruiting trees during the autumn and winter.
What does it do?
Feeding
Olive-backed Orioles are less gregarious than Figbirds, with which they are often seen foraging. Although they are sometimes seen in small groups, particularly in autumn and winter, they more often occur alone or in pairs, feeding on insects and fruit in canopy trees.
Breeding
The female Olive-backed Oriole builds a cup-shaped nest which is attached by its rim to a horizontal fork on the outer-edge of the foliage of a tree or tall shrub. Nests are usually around 10 m above the ground, and built of strips of bark and grass, bound with spider web. The male does not build the nest, or incubate the eggs, but he feeds the young after the eggs hatch.
Living with us
Living with humans
Olive-backed Orioles are commonly encountered in urban parks and golf-courses, particularly those that have fruit-bearing trees.
Urban habitat requirements
As fruit form a major part of the diet of this species, Olive-backed Orioles are attracted to parks and gardens that have trees that produce abundant berries.
References
Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. 1997. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
Morcombe, M. 2000. Field guide to Australian Birds. Steve Parish Publishing.
Simpson, K and Day, N. 1999. Field guide to the birds of Australia, 6th Edition. Penguin Books, Australia.
Beruldsen, G 2003. Australian Birds: Their Nests and Eggs. Self-published, Queensland.
Hoskin, E S (with Hindwood, K A and McGill, A R) 1991. The Birds of Sydney: County of Cumberland, New South Wales, 1770-1989. 2nd edition. Surrey Beatty & Sons P/L.
Slater, P, Slater, P, and Slater, R 1989. The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds. Lansdowne. Revised edition.