Alternative names: Socotra Chestnut-winged Starling: Socotra Red-winged Starling
- Onychognathus frater
Identification
25cm. A rather large, dark starling with a fairly long, slightly graduated tail.
- Glossy black plumage
- Reddish-brown primaries
- Dark brown eye
- Dark brown bill
- Black legs
Sexes similar. Juveniles are sooty brown, have duller primaries, a shorter tail and a greyish bill
Similar species
Somali Starling also occurs on the islands and looks very similar. Socotra Starling is smaller, has a shorter tail and a darker brown eye.
Distribution
Endemic to Socotra, Yemen.
A restricted-range species. Population estimated at 12'000 birds in 2003.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Habitat
Breeds and roosts in rocky areas. Also found in forests, shrubland, and rural gardens.
Behaviour
Feeds mainly on fruit and insects.
Forages in pairs or small groups.
The nest is placed in a natural cavity in a roof or a wall of a limestone cave.
A resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
- 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) Socotra Starling. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Socotra_Starling
