COVER STORY: SPECIES PROFILE
THERE are two large groups of birds that are called orioles. The 50 or so species of American icterid orioles, so called because they have similar plumage and behaviour to the true orioles, are unrelated to members of the family Oriolidae. This family consists of 29 species of orioles and related birds found in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Sometimes for convenience they are divided into groups as yellow-headed, black-headed, brown or black-headed orioles.
, one of the five yellow-headed orioles, is among Britain's rarest breeding species. Opinion is divided whether “oriole” derives from the Latin aureolus meaning “golden”, or refers to its loud flute-like call. The female golden oriole, consistent with other orioles, is slightly smaller and usually streaked on the chest, though there is great variation. There and, notably, female Isabela orioles are very similar to males.
