1. Eurasian golden oriole – Oriolus oriolus
The Eurasian golden oriole is a small bird with a body length of 22-25 cm and a weight of 40-50 g. The adult male's upper plumage is bright yellow, the bottom of the body is white, and there is a characteristic black pattern on the chest. The head is rounded, with a long, thin beak. In an adult female, the upper body plumage is greenish-yellow, the bottom of the body is white, there is a characteristic dark brown pattern on the chest.
Willow is common in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Ukraine, it nests throughout the territory, except for the Crimea.
The Eurasian golden oriole is a migratory bird. It lives in forests, parks, gardens and fields. The Eurasian golden oriole nests in the hollows of trees, sometimes occupying the nests of other birds. The nest is built of small branches, moss and lichens. There are 4-7 eggs in the clutch of the Eurasian golden oriole. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch after 12-14 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
The Eurasian golden oriole feeds on insects, their larvae, spiders, and berries. The Eurasian golden oriole catches prey on tree branches, on the ground, and in the air.
The Eurasian golden oriole is a fairly common species and is not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko