Western Black-headed Oriole

Western Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus brachyrynchus

Silhouette: L. Shyamal · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
at Semuliki National Park

In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%

151 Verified sightings at Semuliki National Park From 2019 to 2026
606 In all 6 parks
April Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Western Black-headed Oriole

The western oriole (Oriolus brachyrynchus), or western black-headed oriole, is a species of bird in the family Oriolidae that is native to Africa. The adult upperparts are yellow-olive, and the underparts are yellow in colour. It is rated as a species of least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species.

The western oriole was first described in 1837 by the English ornithologist William Swainson. Alternate names for the western oriole include the black-headed oriole (not to be confused with another species of the same name, Oriolus larvatus) and greenish-backed oriole. Two subspecies are recognized:

According to the genetic data, the western oriole and the green-headed oriole (Oriolus chlorocephalus) are sister species. The western oriole measures 21 centimetres (8.3 in) in length, and weighs 42 to 57 g (1.5 to 2... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:10

Congo (Democratic Republic) · 2025

© Deville Tanguy · XC1006926 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song0:37

Gabon · 2022

© Étienne Leroy · XC762102 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Recording1:29

Gabon · 2023

© BurBenj · XC1120058 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~40%
2 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
3 Taï National Park 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
~20%
4 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
5 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
6 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Western Black-headed Oriole in Semuliki National Park?

Likely

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Western Black-headed Oriole sighting in Semuliki National Park on a given day, based on 151 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 32nd most-seen of the 280 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Western Black-headed Oriole in Semuliki National Park?

April

In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Western Black-headed Oriole in Semuliki National Park on a given day, against about 20% in June, the lowest month.

What time of day is best to see a Western Black-headed Oriole?

Between 7 and 10 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Western Black-headed Oriole sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Semuliki National Park the best place to see a Western Black-headed Oriole?

Yes

Of the 6 parks where we can rate Western Black-headed Oriole sightings, Semuliki National Park has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Kibale National Park (Uganda, about 20%) and Taï National Park (Ivory Coast, about 20%).

Where does the Western Black-headed Oriole sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Western Black-headed Oriole is recorded against all the birds logged in Semuliki National Park (151 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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