• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Difference between revisions of "Purple Starling" - BirdForum Opus

m (Purple Glossy Starling moved to Purple Starling: Clements and IOC)
(9 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
;Lamprotornis purpureus
+
'''Alternative name: Purple Glossy Starling'''
[[Image:Purple_Glossy_Starling.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Steve G <br/Locality: Kairaba Hotel, Kololi, The Gambia. ]]
+
;[[:Category:Lamprotornis|Lamprotornis]] purpureus
 
+
[[Image:Purple_Glossy_Starling.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Steve+G|Steve G}} <br />Kairaba Hotel, Kololi, [[The Gambia]], March 2005]]
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
The adults of these stocky 22-23cm 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.
+
27cm. A large glossy starling with a short tail and a rather large bill.<br />
 +
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.
 
==Distribution==
 
==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]].<br />
 +
Common to abundant in its range.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 +
Clements accepts two subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
 +
*''L. p. purpureus''
 +
:*[[Senegal]] to [[Cameroon]]
 +
*''L. p. amethystinus''
 +
:*[[Cameroon]] to [[Kenya]]
 +
Other authorities treat this species as monotypic.<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Savannah woodlands. Open woodland and cultivation.
+
Savannah woodlands, especially with fruiting figs. Open woodland and cultivation. Occurs up to 1500m.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
The Purple Starling builds a nest in hole. The normal clutch is two eggs. This is a gregarious and noisy bird, with typical starling squeaks and chattering.
+
This is a gregarious and noisy bird, with typical starling squeaks and chattering.
The diet includes fruit and insects.
+
====Diet====
 
+
The diet includes fruit and insects.<br />
 
+
Forages in trees, bushes and on the ground.
 
+
====Breeding====
 +
Breeding season from February to May. The nest is placed in a tree hole. Lays 2 - 3 eggs.
 +
==References==
 +
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug11}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#Avibase
 +
#Animal Pictures Archive
 +
#BF Member observations
 +
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&what=allfields&si=Lamprotornis+purpureus View more images of Purple Glossy Starling in the gallery]
+
{{GSearch|Lamprotornis+purpureus}}
[[Category:Birds]]
+
<br />
 +
{{Video|Purple_Glossy_Starling}}
 +
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Lamprotornis]] [[Category:Videos]]

Revision as of 18:16, 19 September 2015

Alternative name: Purple Glossy Starling

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

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.

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.

Taxonomy

Clements accepts two subspecies[1]:

  • L. p. purpureus
  • L. p. amethystinus

Other authorities treat this species as monotypic.[2]

Habitat

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

Behaviour

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

Diet

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

Breeding

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

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

Recommended Citation

External Links


Back
Top