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| − | [[Image:Violet-backed_Starling.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male | + | [[Image:Violet-backed_Starling.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male<br />Photo © by {{user|rudydbn|rudydbn}}<br />Mkhuze, [[KwaZulu-Natal]], January 2006]] |
'''Alternative name: Amethyst Starling, Violet Starling''' | '''Alternative name: Amethyst Starling, Violet Starling''' | ||
;[[: Category:Cinnyricinclus|Cinnyricinclus]] leucogaster | ;[[: Category:Cinnyricinclus|Cinnyricinclus]] leucogaster | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
16cm. An unmistakable Starling: | 16cm. An unmistakable Starling: | ||
| + | |||
====Male==== | ====Male==== | ||
* Iridescent metallic purple head, throat, back and tail | * Iridescent metallic purple head, throat, back and tail | ||
| + | [[Image:Violet-backed Starling f jpg.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo © by {{user|George+Koninis|George Koninis}}<br />[[Kruger National Park]], [[South Africa]], December 2013]] | ||
* Deep purplish blue wings | * Deep purplish blue wings | ||
* White breast and belly, occasionally lightly streaked | * White breast and belly, occasionally lightly streaked | ||
* Iris with yellow outer ring and dark inner ring | * Iris with yellow outer ring and dark inner ring | ||
| − | + | ||
====Female==== | ====Female==== | ||
* Brown head and back with streaked appearance (more uniform in ''arabicus'') | * Brown head and back with streaked appearance (more uniform in ''arabicus'') | ||
* White belly, heavily streaked | * White belly, heavily streaked | ||
| + | |||
Juveniles are similar to females. | Juveniles are similar to females. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
{| cellpadding="5" | {| cellpadding="5" | ||
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<font size="1">Maps/Texts consulted<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup></font> | <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]] | + | [[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: | + | ====Subspecies==== |
| + | There are three recognized subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
*''C. l. leucogaster'': | *''C. l. leucogaster'': | ||
:*[[Senegal]] to [[Ethiopia]], [[Gabon]], [[Zaire]], [[Uganda]], north-western [[Kenya]], [[Tanzania]] | :*[[Senegal]] to [[Ethiopia]], [[Gabon]], [[Zaire]], [[Uganda]], north-western [[Kenya]], [[Tanzania]] | ||
| Line 38: | Line 45: | ||
:*Northern [[Ethiopia]], [[Eritrea]], eastern [[Sudan]], north-western [[Somalia]] and [[Arabia|Arabian Peninsula]] | :*Northern [[Ethiopia]], [[Eritrea]], eastern [[Sudan]], north-western [[Somalia]] and [[Arabia|Arabian Peninsula]] | ||
| − | |||
==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. | ||
| Line 49: | Line 55: | ||
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]]. | 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- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#Avibase |
#Paradise Earth | #Paradise Earth | ||
#BF Member observations | #BF Member observations | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | {{GSearch|Cinnyricinclus | + | {{GSearch|"Cinnyricinclus leucogaster" {{!}} "Violet-backed Starling" {{!}} "Amethyst Starling" {{!}} "Violet Starling" {{!}} "Plum-coloured Starling"}} |
| + | {{GS-checked}}1 | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | |||
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Cinnyricinclus]] [[Category:Maps]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Cinnyricinclus]] [[Category:Maps]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:37, 10 August 2023
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
Subspecies
There are three recognized subspecies[1]:
- C. l. leucogaster:
- C. l. verreauxi:
- C. l. arabicus:
- Northern Ethiopia, Eritrea, eastern Sudan, north-western Somalia and Arabian Peninsula
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, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. 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
- 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 17 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Violet-backed_Starling
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
