White-faced Starling

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iWhite-faced Starling
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Sturnus
Species: S. albofrontatus
Binomial name
Sturnus albofrontatus
(Bonaparte, 1850)

The White-faced Starling, Sturnus albofrontatus (previously known as S. senex), is a member of the starling family of birds. It is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka.

This passerine is typically found in tall forest, usually high in the canopy. The White-faced Starling builds its nest in a hole. The normal clutch is two eggs.

The adults of these 22cm long birds have green-glossed dark grey upperparts and whitish underparts. The head is paler than the underparts. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller, with brown upperparts and greyer underparts..

Like most starlings, the White-faced Starling is fairly omnivorous, eating fruit, nectar and insects.

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