Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend is suspected to be declining but the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified but is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
Unknown. Qualitative descriptions of abundance on Borneo range from 'common and widespread' (Mann 2008) to 'uncommon' (Eaton et al. 2021), but these interpretations include also Bornean populations of O. consobrinus (the two having only recently been separated as distinct species: Rheindt et al. 2022). On Sumatra, records are relatively few (eBird 2023), a result that is unsurprising give the lack of remaining suitable habitat. On the Thai-Malay Peninsula, quite common (Wells 2007), although most recent records are confined to protected areas (eBird 2023). While the population is not thought to be small (there remains a large amount of suitable habitat), it is thought to have considerably decreased over the past 20-30 years in response to large-scale conversion of land to oil palm plantations.
Trend justification
Undoubtedly declining in response to conversion of forest habitats to plantations, although this species is tolerant of some degradation. Declines are not thought to have exceeded 20% over the past three generations and are unlikely to accelerate in the near future. According to remote sensing data, forest cover loss in this species range over the past three generations was equivalent to 16-23%, depending on the assumptions used (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). This species is considered moderately forest-dependent, with most records from lowland forest, where it evidently occurs at the highest densities. However, it is tolerant of degradation, and may occur in some plantation types, especially where mixed with native vegetation. Consequently, over the past three generations (10.8 years: 2012-2023) O. xanthonotus is suspected to have declined by 10-20%. This same rate is precautionarily assumed to occur over the next three generations, although thereafter rates of reduction may begin to slow, as an increasing percentage of this species' range will lie in protected areas.
A bird of the Greater Sundas. Occurs on the Thai-Malay Peninsula, from Tenasserim, Myanmar, south through Peninsular Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia, onto Sumatra (including the Mentawai Islands) and Java, Indonesia. On Borneo, its distribution is poorly resolved (specifically where it presumably meets, and is replaced by, O. consobrinus). It is known to occur in Kalimantan, Indonesia, and Sarawak, Malaysia. In Sabah, it is probably wholly replaced by O. consobrinus, but it is this species, presumably, which is in Brunei. The northern limits of its range are in urgent need of clarification (Rheindt et al. 2022). It has never been recorded in Singapore.
This is a species principally of lowland forest, occurring in primary and tall secondary evergreen forest, edge and mature second growth, principally below 500 m, but with records extending up to c.1,200 m (Wells 2007, Mann 2008, Eaton et al. 2021).
The principal threat to this species is the conversion of forest to plantations, particularly oil palm, and the associated timber extraction. Both threats are thought to be causing slow declines (equivalent to 10-20% over three generations), although this species' tolerance of some habitat degradation buffers it from steeper declines.
Conservation Actions Underway
None is known specific to this species, but it occurs in numerous protected areas.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Research in more detail this species' habitat tolerances and, particularly, the impact of degradation. Advocate for more extensive protection of lowland forest areas in its range, to benefit it and other more threatened lowland Sundaic species.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Species factsheet: Dark-throated Oriole Oriolus xanthonotus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/dark-throated-oriole-oriolus-xanthonotus on 24/01/2025.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2025) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 24/01/2025.