Golden Oriole

Golden Oriole, Wielewaal, Pirol, Papa-figos, Oropéndola Dorada Europea

Spotted on Monte Horizonte in the Alentejo region of Portugal.                                      Golden Oriole sound

The Golden Oriole or European (or Eurasian) Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus is the only member of the oriole family of passerine birds breeding in northern hemisphere temperate regions. It is a summer migrant in Europe and western Asia and spends the winter season in the tropics.

More photos at the bottom of this page:

Golden Oriole inhabit tall deciduous trees in woodland, orchards or parks and spend much of their time in tree canopies. They feed on insects and fruit. They build neat nests in tree forks and lay 3-6 eggs.

The male is striking in the typical oriole black and yellow plumage, but the female is a drabber green bird. Orioles are shy, and even the male is remarkably difficult to see in the dappled yellow and green leaves of the canopy.

In flight they look somewhat like a thrush, strong and direct with some shallow dips over longer distances.

Their call is a screech like a jay, but the song is a beautiful fluting weela-wee-ooo or or-iii-ole, unmistakable once heard. Listen to an oriole singing

The name “oriole” was first used in the 18th century and is an adaptation of the scientific Latin genus name, which is derived from the Classical Latin “aureolus” meaning golden. Various forms of “oriole” have existed in Roman languages since the 12th and 13th centuries. Albertus Magnus used the Latin form oriolus in about 1250 and erroneously stated that it was onomatopoeic because of the Golden Oriole’s song.

The New World orioles are similar in appearance to the Oriolidae, but are icterids unrelated to the Old World birds. 

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Europese Wielewaal
Asturian: Cirombella, Filomena, Munchufríu
Breton: Ar glazaour
Catalan: Capsot menut, Oriol, Ouriolo
Catalan (Balears): Oriol
Valencian: Capsot menut
Czech: Žluva hajní
Welsh: Eurgeg, Euryn, Mwyalchen felen
Danish: Pirol
German: Europäischer Pirol, Pirol, Pirole
English: Eurasian Golden Oriole, Eurasian Golden-Oriole, European Golden Oriole, Golden Oriole
Esperanto: oriolo
Spanish: Oropendola, Oropéndola, Oropéndola Dorada Europea, Oropéndola Europea, Oropéndola Oriol, Pájaro moscón
Estonian: Peoleo
Basque: Ouriolo, Urretxori, Urretxoria
Finnish: Kuhankeittäjä
Faroese: Gyllingur
French: Loriot d’Europe, Loriot jaune
Frisian: Gielegou
Irish: Óiréal Órga, Órshóileach
Gaelic: Bhuidheag Eirpach
Galician: Ouriolo
Manx: Ushag airhey
Hindi: Manja kili
Croatian: Vuga, Zlatna vuga
Hungarian: Sárgarigó
Icelandic: Laufglói
Italian: Rigogolo, Rigogolo europeo
Japanese: Nishi Kourai uguisu, nishikouraiuguisu
Cornish: Owrek
Kwangali: Nkulivere
Latin: Oriolus oriolus
Maltese: Tajra Safra
Dutch: Wielewaal
Norwegian: Pirol
Polish: wilga, wilga (zwyczajna), Wilga zwyczajna
Portuguese: papa figos, Papa-figos, Papa-figos europeu, Papa-figos-europeu
Romansh: Pirol
Russian: Ivolga
Scots: Buidheag Eirpach
Slovak: vlha hájová, vlha obycajná , Vlha oby?ajná
Slovenian: kobilar
Albanian: Bengu
Serbian: vuga, vuga zlatna
Sotho, Southern: Sebabole-hetlantšo
Swedish: Sommargylling
Swahili: Kubwilu wa Ulaya, Mramba Mweupe
Tsonga: Ndukuzani

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