| Long-tailed Glossy Starling | |
|---|---|
| Long-tailed Glossy Starling, Parc Forestier de Hann, Senegal | |
| Conservation status | |
| 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.