- Onychognathus albirostris
Identification
25cm. A medium-sized dark starling with a rather short tail.
- Glossy blue-black plumage
- Reddish-brown primaries
- Brown eye
- Pale white bill
- Black legs
Females have a pale grey head and breast. Juveniles are similar to males.
Similar species
Easily distinguished from other Red-winged Starlings by the white bill and the square tail.
Distribution
Highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Locally common to very common.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Habitat
Cliffs, gorges and moorland, locally also in towns. Occurs from 2000 to 3000m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on fruit and insects.
Forages in pairs or small groups in trees. Forms bigger flocks in non-breeding season.
=Breeding
Breeding season August to October in Ethiopia. A monogamous species. The nest is placed in a hole or crevice in rock or in buildings. Lays 4 eggs.
Movements
Presumably 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
- Sinclair, I and P Ryan. 2003. Birds of Africa South of the Sahara. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691118154
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-billed Starling. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-billed_Starling
