Superb Starling

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Superb Starling

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Sturnidae
Genus:	Lamprotornis
Species:	L. superbus

Binomial name

Lamprotornis superbus
Rüppell, 1845

The Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) is a member of the starling family of birds. It can commonly be found in North East Africa, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

[edit] Description

This species is 18 to 19 cm (7 to 7.5 inches) long. Adults have black heads and iridescent blue-to-green back, upper breast, wings, and tail. The belly is red-orange, separated from the blue breast by a white bar. The undertail coverts and the wing linings are white. Juveniles have duller plumage with no more than a suggestion of the white breast band. Their irises are brown, later grayish white, eventually the adult's cream-color.

The Superb Starling has a long and loud song consisting of trills and chatters. At midday it gives a softer song of repeated phrases. There are several harsh calls, the most complex of which is described as "a shrill, screeching skerrrreeee-cherrrroo-tcherreeeeeet."

This species feeds on the ground.

[edit] References

BirdLife International (2004). Lamprotornis superbus. 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
Zimmerman, Dale A.; Turner, Donald A.; and Pearson, David J. (1999). Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania, Field Guide Edition. Princeton University Press, 172–173, 514. ISBN 0-691-01022-6. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.