Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)

OTHER NAMES: Golden Oriole, European Golden Oriole, Western Golden Oriole
Latin Etymology: Oriolus ("golden") oriolus ("golden")

Adult male Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) at Fiume Ciane, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Local Name (Italian): Rigogolo ("Oriole")
Weight: 68-84g  /  Length: 24cm  /  Wingspan: 43cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Golden Oriole is one of the most colourful birds in Europe, but despite both that and a fairly loud and distinctive call, it's surprisingly difficult to see.  Despite being able to hear the birds are there, and them being so brightly coloured, I was able to spend 20 minutes looking for them and not see a sign.  It was only later when we returned back down the track that we noticed one drinking from the river in short burst flights.  The Oriole family is actually fairly large, but the Eurasian is the only member of the entire family found in temperate countries, including a very tiny population in the UK.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Oriolidae
GENUS: Oriolus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - A locally reasonably common Summer migrant.
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Several heard and one seen at Fiume Ciane 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)

OTHER NAMES: Eastern Black-naped Oriole

Latin Etymology: Oriolus ("Golden") chinensis ("Chinese")

Adult Male Black-naped Oriole (subspecies O. c. diffusus) at Kuala Lumpur - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Oriolus chinensis diffusus
Weight: 65-100g  /  Length: 23-28cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While the Golden Oriole of Europe is a shy bird in much of it's range, in Malaysia the Black-naped Oriole is a common sight and sound.  I first encountered them as a bright yellow flash between trees and subsequently encountered them on most days of the trip - still not keen on being exposed much of the time, but found in any notably green space we visited.  It has a typical oriole song - high pitched and perhaps a little shrill, but very fluid and distinctive - it will often be the first thing to alert you to the bird's presence.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Oriolidae
GENUS: Oriolus
SUBSPECIES: O. c. diffusus, O. c. andamanensis, O. c. macrourus, O. c. chinensis, O. c. suluensis, O. c. melanisticus, O. c. sanghirensis, O. c. formosus, O. c. celebensis, O. c. frontalis, O. c. oscillans, O. c. boneratensis, O. c. mundus, O. c. sipora, O. c. richmondi, O. c. insularis, O. c. broderipii, O. c. maculatus 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ចេកទុំ ("Ripe banana")

A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Angkor Wat

MALAYSIA - Malay: Burung Kunyit Besar ("Great Tumeric Bird")

 A common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Seen multiple times daily in Kuala Lumpur and a few birds in Malacca

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .