Oriole warbler

Hypergerus atriceps

Photo by Steve Garvie (Wikipedia)

Common name:
oriole warbler (en); fuinha-de-cabeça-preta (pt); noircap loriot (fr); prinia oropéndola (es); pirolsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is found in West Africa, from southern Senegal to Cameroon and northern D.R. Congo.

Size:
These birds are 19 cm long and weigh about 30 g.

Habitat:
The oriole warbler is mostly found in dense understorey of moist tropical forests and in dense scrublands, usually near rivers and streams. They also use mangroves, dry tropical forests and plantations.

Diet:
They are insectivorous.

Breeding:
Oriole warblers are monogamous. The nest is a large ball-shaped structure with a side entrance near the top and a overhanging porch. It is made of grasses and other plant materials and suspended from a thin branch, palm frond or creeper, usually over water. The female lays 2-3 eggs which are incubated for 14 days. The chicks fledge 12 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be rare to common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.