Purple starling

The purple starling (Lamprotornis purpureus), also known as the purple glossy starling, is a member of the starling family of birds.

Purple starling
At Kasteelpark, Netherlands

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Lamprotornis
Species:
L. purpureus
Binomial name
Lamprotornis purpureus
(Statius Muller, 1776)
A purple starling at Birdworld, UK

Distribution and habitat

It is a resident breeder in tropical Africa from Senegal and north Zaire east to Sudan and west Kenya. This common passerine is typically found in open woodland and cultivation.

Description

The adults of these stocky 22–23 cm 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.

Behaviour

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

Breeding

The purple starling builds a nest in a hole. The normal clutch is two eggs.

Feeding

Like most starlings, the purple starling is omnivorous, eating fruit and insects.

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References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Lamprotornis purpureus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1
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