The slender-billed oriole is a species of bird in the family Oriolidae found from the eastern Himalayas to Southeast Asia.
Region
Eastern Himalayas and Mainland Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Found from the eastern Himalayan foothills of Bhutan and northeast India through northern Myanmar to southern China (notably Yunnan) and across Indochina, including Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. It occupies subtropical and tropical moist broadleaf forests, mature secondary growth, forest edges, and wooded valleys. The species forages mainly in the mid- to upper canopy and may frequent fruiting trees and bamboo stands. Local altitudinal movements occur in some parts of its range following breeding or seasonal resource shifts.
Altitude Range
100–2400 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A canopy-dwelling oriole, it ranges from the eastern Himalayas into mainland Southeast Asia, where it favors broadleaf forests. Its long, slender bill helps it probe foliage for insects and pick soft fruits. The species often reveals itself by its rich, fluty whistles before being seen. Like other orioles, it weaves a neat, pendant cup nest suspended from a forked branch.
Temperament
wary and arboreal
Flight Pattern
direct flight with strong, slightly undulating wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, occasionally in small family parties and sometimes joining mixed-species flocks. Pairs are territorial in the breeding season. The nest is a neat pendant cup woven from plant fibers and suspended from a fork high in the canopy. Both adults typically participate in nest building and feeding the young.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Song is a series of mellow, fluty whistles and piping phrases that carry through the forest canopy. Calls include sharper chack notes and soft contact whistles. Vocalizations are often the first clue to its presence.
