The ventriloquial oriole is a species of bird in the family Oriolidae.
Region
Borneo
Typical Environment
Occurs in the lowland and foothill evergreen forests of Borneo, including Brunei, Malaysian Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak), and Indonesian Kalimantan. It favors primary and well-structured secondary forest, often along rivers and in peat-swamp and alluvial forests. Most activity is in the mid to upper canopy where it forages and sings. It tolerates selectively logged forest but avoids open country and heavily degraded habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Named for its ‘throwing’ voice, the ventriloquial oriole’s mellow whistles often seem to come from a different direction, making it hard to locate high in the canopy. It was formerly treated within the Dark-throated Oriole complex but is now recognized as distinct. The species is most often encountered around fruiting figs and other canopy fruiting trees.
Temperament
shy and canopy-dwelling
Flight Pattern
strong direct flier with shallow wingbeats, short undulating hops between canopy crowns
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups, and occasionally joins mixed-species canopy flocks. Nests are deep cup-shaped structures suspended from slender branch forks high in the canopy. Both sexes likely participate in nest building and feeding the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of mellow, fluty whistles with a striking ventriloquial quality that makes the source hard to pinpoint. Calls include soft chups and harsher scolds when alarmed.
Plumage
Olive-green upperparts with yellow-olive underparts and a dusky to blackish throat that forms a small bib. Wings are darker olive with subtle edging; tail olive with yellowish tones. Texture is sleek and close-feathered, typical of orioles.
Diet
Takes a mix of fruits and invertebrates, including figs, berries, caterpillars, beetles, and other arthropods. Forages by gleaning from leaves and twigs and occasionally makes short sallies to grab prey. Fruit crops, especially figs, can attract several individuals to the same tree.
Preferred Environment
Feeds mainly in the mid to upper canopy of mature and tall secondary forests. Often concentrates along forest edges within intact forest blocks and along river corridors with large fruiting trees.
