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(map added, alternative names, some info breeding and diet) |
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| − | '''Alternative name: Amethyst Starling''' | + | [[Image:Violet-backed_Starling.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male bird<br />Photo by {{user|rudydbn|rudydbn}}<br />Mkhuze, [[KwaZulu-Natal]], January 2006]] |
| + | '''Alternative name: Amethyst Starling, Violet Starling''' | ||
;[[: Category:Cinnyricinclus|Cinnyricinclus]] leucogaster | ;[[: Category:Cinnyricinclus|Cinnyricinclus]] leucogaster | ||
| − | |||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 16cm | + | 16cm. An unmistakable Starling: |
| − | *Iridescent metallic purple head, throat, back and tail | + | ====Male==== |
| − | *Deep purplish blue wings | + | * Iridescent metallic purple head, throat, back and tail |
| − | *White breast and belly, occasionally lightly streaked | + | * Deep purplish blue wings |
| − | + | * White breast and belly, occasionally lightly streaked | |
| − | * | + | * Iris with yellow outer ring and dark inner ring |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
[[Image:12368Violet-backed Starling Female0987.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|rudydbn|rudydbn}}<br />Mkhuze, [[KwaZulu-Natal]], January 2006]] | [[Image:12368Violet-backed Starling Female0987.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|rudydbn|rudydbn}}<br />Mkhuze, [[KwaZulu-Natal]], January 2006]] | ||
| + | ====Female==== | ||
| + | * Brown head and back with streaked appearance (more uniform in ''arabicus'') | ||
| + | * White belly, heavily streaked | ||
| + | Juveniles are similar to females. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Africa]] south of Sahara and [[Arabian Peninsula]] | + | {| cellpadding="5" |
| − | ''' | + | |- |
| − | ''' | + | | rowspan=2 valign="center"| |
| − | ''' | + | [[Image:Map-AmethystStarling.jpg|300px|left]] |
| − | + | |Found in [[Africa]] south of the Sahara and in the southwest of the [[Arabian Peninsula]].<br /> | |
| + | Widespread and common to abundant in its range. | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | |<font size=4>Legend</font><br /> | ||
| + | '''<font color="#33CC00" style="background-color: black">•</font>''' ''C. leucogaster''; year-round<br /> | ||
| + | '''<font color="#FFFF66" style="background-color: black">•</font>''' ''C. leucogaster''; summer<br /> | ||
| + | '''<font color="#3399FF" style="background-color: black">•</font>''' ''C. leucogaster''; outside breeding season<br /> | ||
| + | <font size="1">Maps/Texts consulted<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup></font> | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | [[Image:Violet-backed Starling1.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Steve+G|Steve G}}<br />[[Masai Mara]], [[Kenya]], August 2007]] | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
There are three recognized subspecies: | There are three recognized subspecies: | ||
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Violet-backed Starling is the only member of its genus. | Violet-backed Starling is the only member of its genus. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | |||
Mountain cliffs, savanna woodland (avoids thick evergreen forests), gardens, bushland near fruiting trees. | Mountain cliffs, savanna woodland (avoids thick evergreen forests), gardens, bushland near fruiting trees. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
| − | The diet includes fruit, especially figs, and some insects. | + | The diet includes fruit, especially figs, and some insects.<br /> |
| + | Forages mainly in trees and spends only little time on the ground.<br /> | ||
| + | Often associated with [[Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling]] and sometimes with [[Wattled Starling]]. | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
| − | They nest in tree holes lined with green leaves. The clutch consists of 2-4 pale blue oval eggs with reddish-brown spots. Incubated by the female for 2 weeks. | + | They nest in tree holes lined with green leaves. The clutch consists of 2-4 pale blue oval eggs with reddish-brown spots. Incubated by the female for 2 weeks. Both adults care for the young for 3 weeks, feeding them mainly insects. Brood parasitism by [[Lesser Honeyguide]] recorded, possibly also host to [[Greater Honeyguide]]. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Avibase | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#Avibase |
#Paradise Earth | #Paradise Earth | ||
#BF Member observations | #BF Member observations | ||
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{{GSearch|Cinnyricinclus+leucogaster}} | {{GSearch|Cinnyricinclus+leucogaster}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Cinnyricinclus]] | + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Cinnyricinclus]] [[Category:Maps]] |
Revision as of 15:06, 24 December 2010
Alternative name: Amethyst Starling, Violet Starling
- Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Identification
16cm. An unmistakable Starling:
Male
- Iridescent metallic purple head, throat, back and tail
- Deep purplish blue wings
- White breast and belly, occasionally lightly streaked
- Iris with yellow outer ring and dark inner ring
Female
- Brown head and back with streaked appearance (more uniform in arabicus)
- White belly, heavily streaked
Juveniles are similar to females.
Distribution
 |
Found in Africa south of the Sahara and in the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. Widespread and common to abundant in its range. |
| Legend • C. leucogaster; year-round |
Taxonomy
There are three recognized subspecies:
- C. l. leucogaster:
- C. l. verreauxi:
- C. l. arabicus:
- Northern Ethiopia, Eritrea, eastern Sudan, north-western Somalia and Arabian Peninsula
Violet-backed Starling is the only member of its genus.
Habitat
Mountain cliffs, savanna woodland (avoids thick evergreen forests), gardens, bushland near fruiting trees.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes fruit, especially figs, and some insects.
Forages mainly in trees and spends only little time on the ground.
Often associated with Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling and sometimes with Wattled Starling.
Breeding
They nest in tree holes lined with green leaves. The clutch consists of 2-4 pale blue oval eggs with reddish-brown spots. Incubated by the female for 2 weeks. Both adults care for the young for 3 weeks, feeding them mainly insects. Brood parasitism by Lesser Honeyguide recorded, possibly also host to Greater Honeyguide.
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
- Avibase
- Paradise Earth
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Violet-backed Starling. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Violet-backed_Starling
