Long-tailed glossy starling

Long-tailed glossy starling
Long-tailed glossy starling, Parc Forestier de Hann, Senegal
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Lamprotornis
Species: L. caudatus
Binomial name
Lamprotornis caudatus

The long-tailed glossy starling (Lamprotornis caudatus) is a member of the starling family of birds. It is a resident breeder in tropical Africa from Senegal east to Sudan.

This common passerine is typically found in open woodland and cultivation. The long-tailed glossy starling builds a nest in hole. The normal clutch is two to four eggs.

This ubiquitous bird is gregarious and noisy, with a harsh grating call.

The adults of these 54-cm long birds have metallic green upperparts, violet underparts and a 34-cm long purple tail. The face is black with a yellow eye. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller, with a brownish tone to the plumage.

Long-tailed glossy starling

Like most starlings, the long-tailed glossy starling is an omnivore, eating fruit and insects.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Lamprotornis caudatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  • Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1


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