Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 21, 2026

Green oriole

The green oriole or Australasian yellow oriole is an inconspicuous inhabitant of lush tropical vegetation throughout Australia and New Guinea.

Last revised
Jul 21, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
345 w
Citations
3
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Green oriole
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Oriolidae
Genus: Oriolus
Species:
O. flavocinctus
Binomial name
Oriolus flavocinctus
(King, P.P., 1826)
Synonyms
  • Mimetes flavocinctus

The green oriole or Australasian yellow oriole (Oriolus flavocinctus) is an inconspicuous inhabitant of lush tropical vegetation throughout Australia and New Guinea.2

On nest, Daintree Rainforest, Queensland source ↗

Taxonomy and systematics

Alternate names for the green oriole include the Australian yellow oriole, yellow oriole and yellow-bellied oriole.

Subspecies

Six subspecies are recognised:3

  • O. f. migrator - Hartert, 1904: Found in eastern Lesser Sundas
  • O. f. muelleri - (Bonaparte, 1850): Originally described as a separate species. Found in south-central New Guinea
  • O. f. flavocinctus - (King, P.P., 1826): Found in northern Australia
  • O. f. tiwi - Schodde & Mason, IJ, 1999: Found on Bathurst and Melville Islands (off northern Australia)
  • O. f. flavotinctus - Schodde & Mason, IJ, 1999: Found on Cape York Peninsula (north-eastern Australia)
  • O. f. kingi - Mathews, 1912: Found in north-eastern Queensland (north-eastern Australia)

Distribution and habitat

They are often difficult to locate, as their yellow-green plumage blends with the foliage and only their deep bubbling musical calls can be heard. They are nevertheless common in suitable habitat: rainforests, mangroves, thickets along watercourses, swamps, and lush gardens.

Behaviour and ecology

Yellow oriole, Cape York Peninsula source ↗

Breeding

Breeding takes place during the wet season (October to March). A neat, deep cup is constructed from strips of bark and vines, lined with rootlets, and slung between leafy branches, usually 5–15 m up. They typically lay two eggs.

Food and feeding

Green orioles forage slowly and methodically through the middle and upper strata of dense forests, taking fruit in the main. Typically alone or in pairs, they sometimes form small flocks in the nonbreeding season.

References

References

  1. BirdLife International (2017). "Oriolus flavocinctus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T22706365A118671909. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22706365A118671909.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. "Species profile—Oriolus flavocinctus (green oriole)". Species information. Queensland Government. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  3. "IOC World Bird List 7.1". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.7.1.