Long-tailed Glossy-starling

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Long-tailed Glossy Starling
Long-tailed Glossy Starling, Parc Forestier de Hann, Senegal
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae Genus: Lamprotornis Species: L. caudatus
Binomial name
Lamprotornis caudatus (Statius Muller, 1776)

The Long-tailed Glossy Starling, Lamprotornis caudatus, is a member of the starling family of birds. It is a resident breeder in tropical Africa from Senegal east to Sudan.

This common passerine is typically found in open woodland and cultivation. The Long-tailed Glossy Starling builds a nest in hole. The normal clutch is 2 to 4 eggs.

This ubiquitous bird is gregarious and noisy, with a harsh grating call.

The adults of these 54 cm long birds have metallic green upperparts, violet underparts and a 34 cm long purple tail. The face is black with a yellow eye. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller, with a brownish tone to the plumage.

Like most starlings, the Long-tailed Glossy Starling is fairly omnivorous, eating fruit and insects.

[edit] References

• BirdLife International (2004). Lamprotornis caudatus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
• Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1