Maroon Oriole

Overview

The maroon oriole (Oriolus traillii) is a species of bird in the family Oriolidae, native to Southeast Asia. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Size: 25–28 cm in length.
• Plumage: Adult males display glossy crimson-maroon bodies with black heads, necks and wings, and chestnut-maroon tails; females and immatures possess greyish-white underparts with black streaks.
• Colour variation: Individuals in the Indian Subcontinent exhibit duller colours, while those in Southeast Asia appear brighter with reddish tones.

Habitat

The species inhabits subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests across a range that includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam.

Diet

The maroon oriole feeds on a diet of wild figs, berries, insects and nectar.

Did you know?

Genetic evidence indicates that the silver oriole is genetically embedded among the subspecies of maroon oriole, with the nominate subspecies of maroon oriole being more closely related to silver oriole than to any other maroon oriole subspecies.