From Opus

Alternative name: Purple Starling

Lamprotornis purpureus

Photo by Steve G
Kairaba Hotel, Kololi, The Gambia, March 2005

[edit] Identification

27cm. A large glossy starling with a short tail and a rather large bill.
Difficult to separate in field from other Glossy Starlings

• Metallic purple head and body
• Glossy green wings
• Short tail
• Yellow eye
• Black bill and legs

Sexes are similar. Juveniles are much duller, with grey underparts and a brown iris.

[edit] Distribution

From Senegal and Gambia east to Guinea-Bissau, southern Mali and northern Guinea east in the savanna belt to southern Chad, northern Central African Republic, southern Sudan, Uganda and western Kenya.
Common to abundant in its range.

[edit] Taxonomy

Clements accepts two subspecies^[1]:

• L. p. purpureus

• Senegal to Cameroon

• L. p. amethystinus

• Cameroon to Kenya

Other authorities treat this species as monotypic.^[2]

[edit] Habitat

Savannah woodlands, especially with fruiting figs. Open woodland and cultivation. Occurs up to 1500m.

[edit] Behaviour

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

[edit] Diet

The diet includes fruit and insects.
Forages in trees, bushes and on the ground.

[edit] Breeding

Breeding season from February to May. The nest is placed in a tree hole. Lays 2 - 3 eggs.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. 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
3. Avibase
4. Animal Pictures Archive
5. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links