- Aplonis insularis
Identification
19cm. A medium-sized Starling with a short tail.
- Black head and body with some blue-purple gloss
- Dark brown wing and tail
- Yellow or orange-yellow eye
- Black bill and legs
Sexes similar. Juveniles are chocolate-brown and have a brownish-grey eye.
Distribution
Endemic to Rennell in the southern Solomon Islands.
Uncommon with a tiny range.
Taxonomy
A monotypic species.
May form a superspecies with Atoll Starling and was formerly considered conspecific.
Habitat
Forest edge, sometimes in forest and gardens.
Behaviour
Feeds on fruit, insects and land snails.
Forages generally in pairs.
Breeds in stump of coconut palm or in a tree hole. Lays 3 eggs.
A resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- 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) Rennell Starling. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rennell_Starling
