Purple starling

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Purple starling
Purple Glossy-Starling (Lamprotornis purpureus) - Gambia.jpg
Adult bird in The Gambia

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Lamprotornis
Species:
L. purpureus
Binomial name
Lamprotornis purpureus
(Statius Muller, 1776)
A purple starling at Birdworld, UK

The purple starling (Lamprotornis purpureus), also known as the purple glossy starling, is a member of the starling family of birds.

Distribution and habitat[]

It is a resident breeder in tropical Africa from Senegal and north Zaire east to Sudan and west Kenya. This common passerine is typically found in open woodland and cultivation.

Description[]

The adults of these stocky 22–23 cm long birds have a metallic purple head and body, and glossy green wings. They have a short tail and a yellow eye. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are much duller, with grey underparts and a brown iris.

Behaviour[]

This is a gregarious and noisy bird, with typical starling squeaks and chattering.

Breeding[]

The purple starling builds a nest in a hole. The normal clutch is two eggs.

Feeding[]

Like most starlings, the purple starling is omnivorous, eating fruit and insects.

References[]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Lamprotornis purpureus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22710668A132089272. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22710668A132089272.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  • Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1
Retrieved from ""