Alternative name: Madagascan Starling
- Hartlaubius auratus
Saroglossa aurata
Identification
20cm. A distinctive Starling.
- Dark chocolate-brown head
- Lighter brown rest of upperparts
- Dark blue wing with some violet gloss and large white patch
- Dark blue-green, forked tail
- Dark chocolate-brown underparts fading into white centre of belly, thighs and undertail-coverts
- Brown eye
- Black bill and legs
Females are similar but less glossy and paler grey-brown. Juveniles resemble females.
Distribution
Endemic to the coastal areas of Madagascar (except arid southwest).
Widespread and relatively common but surprisingly poorly known.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Formerly placed in the genus Saroglossa.
Habitat
Forest and shrubland. Also cultivated areas near human activity. Occurs from sea-level up to 1800m.
Behaviour
Feeds mainly on fruit, takes also insects and nectar.
Forages in small flocks in treetops. Associates with other fruit-eating species like Madagascar Green-Pigeon.
Breeding season from September to November. The nest is placed in a tree hole.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Madagascar Starling. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Madagascar_Starling
