Purple Glossy Starling
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| Lamprotornis purpureus (Statius Muller, 1776) |
The Purple Glossy Starling, Lamprotornis purpureus, is a member of the starling family of birds. 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. The Purple Starling builds a nest in hole. The normal clutch is two eggs. This is a gregarious and noisy bird, with typical starling squeaks and chattering.
The adults of these stocky 22-23cm 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.
Like most starlings, the Purple Glossy Starling is fairly omnivorous, eating fruit and insects.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Lamprotornis purpureus. 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
