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| + | '''Alternative name: Amethyst Starling''' | ||
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;[[: Category:Cinnyricinclus|Cinnyricinclus]] leucogaster | ;[[: Category:Cinnyricinclus|Cinnyricinclus]] leucogaster | ||
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[[Image:Violet-backed_Starling.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by rudydbn<br />Male bird. Photo taken: Mkhuze, KZN, RSA.]] | [[Image:Violet-backed_Starling.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by rudydbn<br />Male bird. Photo taken: Mkhuze, KZN, RSA.]] | ||
[[Image:12368Violet-backed Starling Female0987.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Photo by rudydbn<br />Female bird. Photo taken: Mkhuze, KZN, RSA.]] | [[Image:12368Violet-backed Starling Female0987.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Photo by rudydbn<br />Female bird. Photo taken: Mkhuze, KZN, RSA.]] | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | 16cm. Iridescent metallic purple head, throat, back and tail, deeper purplish blue wings, white breast and belly, occasionally lightly streaked. Female has brown head and back with a white belly that is heavily streaked. Juveniles closely resemble females. Eyes are yellow. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
[[Arabian Peninsula]] and [[Africa]] south of Sahara. | [[Arabian Peninsula]] and [[Africa]] south of Sahara. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | There are three recognized subspecies: ''leucogaster'', ''arabicus'', and ''verreauxi''. Violet-backed Starling is the only member of its genus | + | There are three recognized subspecies: ''leucogaster'', ''arabicus'', and ''verreauxi''. Violet-backed Starling is the only member of its genus. |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | Forests and wooded areas. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | The diet includes fruit, especially figs, and some insects. | ||
| + | |||
| + | They nest in tree holes and green leaves make up most of the nest. 2-4 pale blue oval eggs with reddish-brown spots are laid and are incubated by the female for 2 weeks. Both sexes will tend to the new brood for 3 weeks, feeding them mainly insects. | ||
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==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Cinnyricinclus+leucogaster}} | {{GSearch|Cinnyricinclus+leucogaster}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Cinnyricinclus | + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Cinnyricinclus]] |
Revision as of 15:29, 10 July 2008
Alternative name: Amethyst Starling
- Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Identification
16cm. Iridescent metallic purple head, throat, back and tail, deeper purplish blue wings, white breast and belly, occasionally lightly streaked. Female has brown head and back with a white belly that is heavily streaked. Juveniles closely resemble females. Eyes are yellow.
Distribution
Arabian Peninsula and Africa south of Sahara.
Taxonomy
There are three recognized subspecies: leucogaster, arabicus, and verreauxi. Violet-backed Starling is the only member of its genus.
Habitat
Forests and wooded areas.
Behaviour
The diet includes fruit, especially figs, and some insects.
They nest in tree holes and green leaves make up most of the nest. 2-4 pale blue oval eggs with reddish-brown spots are laid and are incubated by the female for 2 weeks. Both sexes will tend to the new brood for 3 weeks, feeding them mainly insects.
