The black-hooded oriole (Oriolus xanthornus) is a member of the Oriolidae family.

In Bangla the bird named with two wonderful name and in both name has two wonderful story/folklore. Story behind  IstiKutum (ইষ্টিকুটুম) is – people in the village believes if anyone see the bird in their courtyard this is the sign that guest will visit the house. Story behind the second bangla name Benebou (বেনেবউ) is – An unfortunate wife of a village merchant used to be tortured by her mother-in-law. Her mother in law used to make her starve even for a minor mistake. On such aoccasion when she was making Pitha(a special food (hand made sweet/cake like traditional Bengali food) the lady/girl could not bear the hunger and start eating directly from the cooking vessel as her mother in law was out of sight. Her Sari(Traditional Garment the Bengali ladies wear) was already stained with the turmeric used for cooking. To her utter surprise when she saw her mother in law saw her eating the ‘Pitha’ she got scared and jumped to nearby pond an died but the goddess that protects the children made her into a bird with the head covered with black soot from the earthen vessel and body a yellow as turmeric paste, the black hooded oriole. For this reason one of  the Bengali name of the bird is “benebou” which means the merchant’s wife

The adult  male has glossy black head contrasting with golden yellow body, bold yellow edges to black tertailsand secondaries.Adult female are almost similar but has yellow olive mantle. Bill is pink and legs are black. Immature birds hood is not solidly black, yellow forehead, yellow streaking on the crown ans on the side of the head,black streaking on white throat, defuse black streaking on yellow breast. duller wings with narrow yellowish edges to flight feathers. Immature bird has also dark bill.

Food habit : Mainly berries and fruits, especially figs (Ficus), peepal (Ficusreligiosa), insect, also some nectar.

SIZE and WEIGHT: Length 23-25 cm  and Weighs about  80 gm

 

(Kawsar Mostafa)

The Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus) is a resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from India and Srilanka, Myanmar, Thailand.Also found  in Parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. There is no record in Pakistan. A very common bird of Bangldesh.

The Black-hooed Oriole inhabits in dry dipterocarp forest and mixed deciduous moist woodlands, open semi-evergreen and evergreen forest, found in city parks, gardens, village woods.

Built nest on trees,breeds throughout the years, normally two or more breeds per season.

Though population number declined over the years but still considered as not globally threatened.

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