Olive-backed Oriole

Olive-backed Orioles (Oriolus sagittatus – see end note) are summer breeding migrants in SE Australia, though Birdata records indicate some are present all year round in the south, including East Gippsland. The following screenshot from Birdata for the BirdLife East Gippsland Region shows the monthly variation in surveys recording the Olive-backed Oriole and the strong dip outside of the September to January breeding season.

Olive-backed Orioles are regarded as being uncommon and if it was not for their distinctive call they would be easily overlooked in the leafy canopy habitats they favour. 

I suspect the low number of records in May, June and July in the south of their range is in part due to them not calling much at this time and also less birders are out in the field during winter. Even over the warmer months many records are based on hearing them and not on sightings.

The bird in the following photos was found in Kings Billabong Park on the Murray River near Mildura in July when it was seen foraging for insects – they eat fruits and insects - in the canopies of Black Box trees.

About the size of a Red Wattlebird, they are very attractive and have a beautiful voice which includes mimicry of other bird species.

NOTE: You can left click on any photo to open a slide show of the photos free of text or a right click enables one photo at a time to be opened in a New Tab where an enlarged version can be viewed.

With spring upon us, Olive-backed Orioles can be heard calling in many East Gippsland habitats now.

Note: The genus name Oriolus suggests it was derived from the call which is described for example in the Pizzey & Knight field guide as “rolling, mellow, oft-repeated ‘orry, orry-ole’ or ‘olly-ole’, however there is no connection as the genus name is derived from Mediaeval oryolus and from Latin aureoles meaning golden bird. The species name sagittatus comes from Latin sagitta meaning an arrow, which describes the arrow-like black streaks on the bird’s breast and belly. The above information was obtained from Fraser & Gray, Australian Bird Names A Complete Guide – CSIRO Pub.

I find the history and derivation of bird names, both scientific and common, fascinating and my go to text is Fraser and Gray – highly recommended.