Lamprotornis
Encyclopedia
Lamprotornis is a large genus of glossy-starling
s all of which occur in Africa
south of the Sahara
. They have glossy blue or green upper parts, which is due to hollow melanin
granules arranged in a single layer near the feather barbule’s surface. This unique arrangement led to some glossy starlings formerly placed in the genus Spreo
being transferred to Lamprotornis, since they shared this feature (but see also below).
The under parts of these species lacks iridescence. They may be blue, purple, yellow or brown. Most Lamprotornis starlings have striking yellow or red irides
and some have long tails.
These glossy starlings are found in a variety of habitats from forests to open woodland and gardens. They nest in tree holes, either natural, or made by woodpecker
s or barbets
, and some will used man-made structures. Most species are resident apart from seasonal or local movement, but Shelley’s Starling is migratory
. Most species are gregarious outside the breeding season.
Lamprotornis glossy-starlings are omnivorous
and mostly feed on the ground, although they will take fruit from trees. Some will feed on or near large mammals to find insects.
The limits of this genus require revision. For example, the Black-bellied Glossy-starling
is sometimes placed in a separate genus Notopholia, and it (and possibly others) appears to be indeed well distinct. On the other hand, genera such as Coccycolius, Spreo
and Compsarus are sometimes included in Lamprotolius.(Zuccon et al. 2006)
Starling
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. The name "Sturnidae" comes from the Latin word for starling, sturnus. Many Asian species, particularly the larger ones, are called mynas, and many African species are known as glossy starlings because of their iridescent...
s all of which occur in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
south of the Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
. They have glossy blue or green upper parts, which is due to hollow melanin
Melanin
Melanin is a pigment that is ubiquitous in nature, being found in most organisms . In animals melanin pigments are derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine. The most common form of biological melanin is eumelanin, a brown-black polymer of dihydroxyindole carboxylic acids, and their reduced forms...
granules arranged in a single layer near the feather barbule’s surface. This unique arrangement led to some glossy starlings formerly placed in the genus Spreo
Spreo
Spreo is a genus of starling in the Sturnidae family.It contains the following species:* White-crowned Starling * Fischer's Starling * African Pied Starling...
being transferred to Lamprotornis, since they shared this feature (but see also below).
The under parts of these species lacks iridescence. They may be blue, purple, yellow or brown. Most Lamprotornis starlings have striking yellow or red irides
Iris (anatomy)
The iris is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. "Eye color" is the color of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown. In some cases it can be hazel , grey, violet, or even pink...
and some have long tails.
These glossy starlings are found in a variety of habitats from forests to open woodland and gardens. They nest in tree holes, either natural, or made by woodpecker
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species....
s or barbets
Lybiidae
The Lybiidae is a bird family containing the African barbets. They were usually united with their American and Asian relatives in the Capitonidae for quite some time, but this has been confirmed to be limited to the main American lineage. There are 42 species ranging from the type genus Lybius of...
, and some will used man-made structures. Most species are resident apart from seasonal or local movement, but Shelley’s Starling is migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
. Most species are gregarious outside the breeding season.
Lamprotornis glossy-starlings are omnivorous
Omnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
and mostly feed on the ground, although they will take fruit from trees. Some will feed on or near large mammals to find insects.
Species in taxonomic order
- Cape Glossy-starling, Lamprotornis nitens
- Greater Blue-eared Glossy-starlingGreater Blue-eared Glossy-starlingThe Greater Blue-eared Glossy-starling or Greater Blue-eared Starling is a bird that breeds from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south through eastern Africa to northeastern South Africa and Angola...
, Lamprotornis chalybaeus - Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-starlingLesser Blue-eared Glossy-starlingThe Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-starling or Lesser Blue-eared Starling is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family....
, Lamprotornis chloropterus - Southern Blue-eared Glossy-starlingSouthern Blue-eared Glossy-starlingThe Miombo Blue-eared Starling , also known as the Southern Blue-eared Glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family. It is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife...
, Lamprotornis elisabeth - Bronze-tailed Glossy-starlingBronze-tailed Glossy-starlingThe Bronze-tailed Glossy-starling is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family.It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Togo,...
, Lamprotornis chalcurus - Splendid Glossy-starlingSplendid Glossy-starlingThe Splendid Starling , also known as the Splendid Glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family...
, Lamprotornis splendidus - Principe Glossy-starlingPríncipe Glossy-starlingThe Principe Starling , also known as the Príncipe Glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family. It is endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24...
, Lamprotornis ornatus - Purple Glossy-starling, Lamprotornis purpureus
- Rueppell's Glossy-starlingRueppell's Glossy-starlingRüppell's Starling , also known as Rueppell's Glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
, Lamprotornis purpuroptera - Long-tailed Glossy-starling, Lamprotornis caudatus
- Meves' Glossy-starling, Lamprotornis mevesii
- Burchell's Glossy-starlingBurchell's Glossy-starlingThe Burchell's Glossy-starling is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
, Lamprotornis australis - Sharp-tailed Glossy-starlingSharp-tailed Glossy-starlingThe Sharp-tailed Starling , also known as the Sharp-tailed Glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia....
, Lamprotornis acuticaudus - Superb StarlingSuperb StarlingThe Superb Starling is a member of the starling family of birds. It can commonly be found in East Africa, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Used to be known as Spreo superbus .-Description:...
, Lamprotornis superbus - Hildebrandt's StarlingHildebrandt's StarlingHildebrandt's Starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It forms a superspecies with and has previously been included in the same species as Shelley's Starling, which is a migratory species ranging from Ethiopia and Somalia to Kenya...
, Lamprotornis hildebrandti - Shelley's StarlingShelley's StarlingThe Shelley's Starling is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family.It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Tanzania.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24 July 2007....
, Lamprotornis shelleyi - Chestnut-bellied StarlingChestnut-bellied StarlingThe Chestnut-bellied Starling is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family.It is found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, and Togo.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. ....
, Lamprotornis pulcher - Purple-headed Glossy-starlingPurple-headed Glossy-starlingThe Purple-headed Starling , also known as the Purple-headed Glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family.-Distribution and habitat:...
, Lamprotornis purpureiceps - Copper-tailed Glossy-starlingCopper-tailed Glossy-starlingThe Copper-tailed Glossy-starling is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family.It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests....
, Lamprotornis cupreocauda
The limits of this genus require revision. For example, the Black-bellied Glossy-starling
Black-bellied Glossy-starling
The Black-bellied Glossy-starling is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family.It is found in Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
is sometimes placed in a separate genus Notopholia, and it (and possibly others) appears to be indeed well distinct. On the other hand, genera such as Coccycolius, Spreo
Spreo
Spreo is a genus of starling in the Sturnidae family.It contains the following species:* White-crowned Starling * Fischer's Starling * African Pied Starling...
and Compsarus are sometimes included in Lamprotolius.(Zuccon et al. 2006)