Oriolus tenuirostris
The Slender-billed Oriole (Oriolus tenuirostris) is an elegant member of the Old World Oriole family (Oriolidae), primarily recognized by its distinctively fine, slightly decurved, grayish-horn bill. Measuring approximately 23-26 cm in length, males boast a vibrant plumage of bright yellow on the head and underparts, contrasting with an olive-green back and wings, often highlighted by subtle black lores. Females are typically duller and greener, sometimes exhibiting streaking on the underpart...
The Slender-billed Oriole primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests, montane forests, and bamboo thickets, often found near water bodies. It ranges from plains up to elevations of approximately 2,000 meters.
Primarily an insectivore, the Slender-billed Oriole feeds on caterpillars, beetles, and other arthropods, supplemented significantly by various fruits and occasional nectar. It forages by gleaning and probing foliage high in the forest canopy.
Typically active during daylight hours, the Slender-billed Oriole is predominantly arboreal, often observed singly or in pairs foraging high in the canopy. Its foraging strategy involves gleaning insects and plucking fruits from foliage, using its slender bill to expertly probe for hidden prey. W...
The Slender-billed Oriole possesses a broad, though somewhat disjunct, distribution across the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. Its breeding range extends from the western Himalayas in northern India (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh) eastward through Nepal, Bhutan, and into northeastern India (Sikkim,...
Least Concern
- The 'slender-billed' feature is its most defining physical characteristic, making it relatively easy to distinguish from other orioles in its range. - Its scientific name, *tenuirostris*, literally means 'slender-billed' in Latin, directly referencing its unique bill morphology. - Despite its v...