Purple starling
| Purple starling | |
|---|---|
| |
| Adult bird in The Gambia | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Sturnidae |
| Genus: | Lamprotornis |
| Species: | L. purpureus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lamprotornis purpureus (Statius Muller, 1776)
| |
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[]
- ^ 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
- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Lamprotornis
- Starlings
- Birds of Sub-Saharan Africa
- Birds described in 1776
- Taxa named by Philipp Ludwig Statius Müller