White-necked myna

Streptocitta albicollis

Photo by Ethan Chan (Flickr)

Common name:
white-necked myna (en); mainá-pescoço-branco (pt); streptocitte à cou blanc (fr); miná cuelliblanco (es); weißhalsatzel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the island of Sulawesi, in Indonesia.

Size:
These birds are about 50 cm long, including the 25-30 cm long tail.


Habitat:
The white-necked myna is mostly found in moist tropical forests, also using swamp forests and moist scrublands.

Diet:
They feed mainly on fruits, but also take some invertebrate and, occasionally, small vertebrates such as lizards.

Breeding:
White-necked mynas are believed to be monogamous and breed in September-November. They are known to nest is holes on dead trees, but there is no further information on the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as common and widespread. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation.

Metallic starling

Aplonis metallica

Photo by Larry Thompson (Discover Life)

Common name:
metallic starling (en); estorninho-lustroso (pt); stourne luisant (fr); estornino lustroso (es); weberstar (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passerifores
Family Sturnidae

Range:
This species is found throughout the lowland areas of New Guinea and in several nearby islands, including the Maluku and Northern Maluku Islands, and the Bismark Islands, as well as in the Solomon Islands and in Australia, in northern Queensland.

Size:
These birds are 25 cm long and weigh 48-67 g.

Habitat:
The metallic starling is mostly found in moist tropical forests, also using mangroves, forest edges and clearings, dry coastal savannas and rural gardens.

Diet:
They are mainly frugivorous, but also take nectar and some insects.

Breeding:
Metallic starlings can breed all year round, varying among different parts of their range. They nest in colonies of up to 400 pairs, all occupying a single tree. Each nest is a domed structure with a side entrance, made of small pieces of wood, tendrils of vines and strips of bark, and lined with strips of palm leaves. The female lays 1-3 light blue eggs with grey-purple and reddish spots. There is no available information regarding the length of the incubation and fledgling periods, but chicks are known to be fed by both parents.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as locally common to abundant, although uncommon or rare on the Tanimbar islands and Sulu Islands in Indonesia. The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the impacts of habitat modification on population sizes.

Asian glossy starling

Aplonis panayensis

Photo by Yap Lip Kee (Wikipedia)

Common name:
Asian glossy starling (en); estorninho-bronzeado (pt); stourne bronzé (fr); estornino bronceado (es); Malaienstar (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae

Range:
This species is found in southern Bangladesh and extreme eastern India, through southern Myanmar and southern Thailand and into southern Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and the Indonesian islands of Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi.

Size:
These birds are 20 cm long and weigh 50-60 g.

Habitat:
The Asian glossy starling is mostly found in moist tropical forests and plantations, often along forest edges and in forest clearings. They also use second growths, mangroves and other coastal vegetation, arable land, rural gardens and even urban areas. they are present from sea level up to an altitude of 700 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on fruits, but also take berries, nuts, nectar and arthropods such as adult and larval beetles, caterpillars, mole crickets, grasshoppers and spiders.

Breeding:
Asian glossy starlings breed in January-August, varying among different parts of their range. They are probably monogamous and can nest either in solitary pairs or in colonies. They nest in cavities, using natural cavities, old woodpecker nests and holes in cliffs or banks, as well as nest boxes. Inside the hole they build a rough cup made of roots, grass and leaves, where the female lays 3 bluish eggs with dark markings. there is no available information on the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the impacts of habitat modification on population sizes.

Bali starling

Leucopsar rothschildi

(Photo from Forum Iranvij)

Common name:
Bali starling (en); estorninho-de-Bali (pt); étourneau de Rothschild (fr); estornino de Bali (es); Balistar (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the Indonesian island of Bali, where it is now confined to the West Bali National Park. There is also an introduced population in the nearby Nusa Penida Island.

Size:
These birds are 25 cm long and weigh 85-90 g.

Habitat:
The Bali starling breeds in fire-induced open scrublands, tree and palm savannas and adjacent closed-canopy monsoon forest. In the non-breeding season they disperse into open forest edge and flooded savanna woodland. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 175 m.

Diet:
They feed are omnivorous, eating various seeds, fruits up to the size of figs and papayas, insects such as ants, termites, dragonflies and grasshoppers, worms and occasionally small reptiles. They are also known to consume nectar.

Breeding:
Bali starlings are monogamous and form long-term pair bonds. They breed in January-April and nest in abandoned woodpecker nests or natural tree holes, lined with dry twigs. The nest is usually 4-10 m above the ground. The female lays 2-3 pale blue eggs, which she mostly incubates alone for 12-15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents, but usually only one survives until fledging. there is no information on the length of the fledgling period, but parents continue to feed the chicks for up to 7 weeks afterwards.

Conservation:
IUCN status - CR (Critically Endangered)
This species has a very small breeding range and a global population is possibly below 50 individuals. The wild population has been maintained only by release of captive birds, so is essentially gradually declining. However, signs from the reintroduced colony on Nusa Penida and West Bali National Park are promising, with both populations breeding and apparently increasing. This species was virtually lead to extinction by unsustainable levels of trapping for the international cage bird trade and even within the national park there were cases of armed men stilling birds from the captive breeding programme, because they can be worth up to US $2.000. Due to their very low population, other threats may include genetic erosion, interspecific competition, natural predation and disease. The species is protected by law and the only thing keeping it from extinction in the wild is the reintroduction of captive bred birds both in its natural range and in the nearby Nusa Penida Island.

Pied starling

Spreo bicolor

Photo by Alan Manson (Mango Verde)

Common name:
pied starling (en); estorninho-de-ventre-branco (pt); spréo bicolore (fr); estornino bicolor (es); zweifarb-glanzstar (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae

Range:
This species is endemic to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.

Size:
These birds are 25-28 cm long and weigh 90-115 g.

Habitat:
The pied starling is mostly found in open habitats, such as grasslands, pastures and arable land, also using rural gardens and dry scrublands.

Diet:
They feed mainly on arthropods, such as ants, termites, beetles, dragonflies, grasshoppers, caterpillars, centipedes, solifugids, amphipods and ticks. They also eat small lizards, seeds, nectar, fruits, human waste and also road kill.

Breeding:
Pied starlings are monogamous, and can either nest solitarily or in colonies of up to several thousands. The breeding pair is often assisted by up to 7 helpers. They can breed all year round, but with a peak in August-January. They nests in tunnels in river banks, or also in holes in buildings, straw bales or natural tree holes, which are lined with plant materials and items of human waste such as paper and rope. The female lays 2-6 eggs, which she incubates alone for 14-16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and the helpers and fledge 23-27 days after hatching. After fledging they continue to be fed by the helpers until becoming independent, 1 week later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is reported to be common to abundant. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Common hill myna

Gracula religiosa

Photo by Rajiv Lather (Birding in India)

Common name:
common hill myna (en); mainá-da-montanha (pt); mainate religieux (fr); miná del Himalaya (es); beo (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae

Range:
This species is found from eastern and north-eastern India, and southern China, through Indochina and into Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. It has also been introduced to several other areas, namely Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Japan, Hong Kong and Macao.

Size:
These birds are 27-30 cm long and weigh about 200 g.

Habitat:
The common hill myna is mostly found in moist tropical forests, but also in mangroves and plantation. They are present at altitudes of 300-2.000 m.

Diet:
They are mainly frugivorous, taking various figs and other fruits and berries, but also eat seeds, nectar, insects and small lizards.

Breeding:
Common hill mynas breed in April-July. They nest on a small hole in a tree, usually at the forest edge, which both sexes line with twigs, leaves and feathers. The female lays 2-4 bluish-green eggs with brown spots. The eggs are incubated by both parents for 13-17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 25-28 days after hatching. Each pair can raise 2-3 broods per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common to abundant. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to capture for the cage bird trade and to widespread forest destruction, although rates of decline are unlikely to be higher than moderate, as this species is tolerant of secondary and degraded habitats.

Brahminy starling

Sturnus pagodarum

Photo by J.M. Garg (Wikipedia)

Common name:
Brahminy starling (en); estorninho-dos-pagodes (pt); étourneau des pagodes (fr); estornino de las pagodas (es); pagodenstar (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae

Range:
This species is found throughout India and also in Nepal, eastern Pakistan and marginally into Afghanistan. Some of the more northern populations migrate south to winter in Sri Lanka. The species was introduced in Oman and the United Arabian Emirates.

Size:
These birds are 20 cm long and weigh 40-55 g.

Habitat:
The Brahminy starling is mostly found in open, deciduous forests and tropical forests but also in plantations and arable land. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.800 m.

Diet:
They feed on a wide variety of invertebrates, as well as the fruits, berries, flowers and nectar of a range of plants.

Breeding:
Brahminy starlings are monogamous and breed in February-September. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of an untidy structure of grass, dead leaves, paper and other materials, placed in the hole of a tree, or sometimes on a wall or in the roofs of buildings. They are also known to use nest boxes when no other suitable nest sites are available. The female lays 3-5 pale blue eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 12-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 18-21 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as local and erratic in Pakistan, frequent in western Nepal and uncommon in the centre and south, locally common in India and rare in Sri Lanka. The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the impacts of habitat modification on population sizes.

Crested myna

Acridotheres cristatellus

(Photo from Lananhbirds Club)

Common name:
crested myna (en); mainá-de-crista (pt); martin huppé (fr); mainá china (es); haubenmaina (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae

Range:
This species originates from southern China, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, but has been introduced to several parts of the world including Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Portugal, Argentina, British Columbia in Canada and Florida in the United States.

Size:
These birds are 25 cm long and weigh 110-120 g.

Habitat:
The crested myna is found in urban parks and gardens, harbours, arable land, rice fields, pastures, wet grasslands and also along forest edges.

Diet:
They feed on insects, fruits, grains and also the eggs and chicks of other birds.

Breeding:
Crested mynas breed in April-June. They nest in a variety of cavities and crevices, and the nest consists of a loose collection of sticks leaves, paper, and other trash. There the female lays 4-7 glossy green-blue eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for 14-15 days. The chicks fledge 21-30 days after hatching. Each pair can raise 1-2 broods per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Golden-breasted starling

Cosmopsarus regius

Photo by Nick Athanas (Antpitta)

Common name:
golden-breasted starling (en); estorninho-de-peito-dourado (pt); choucador royal (fr); estornino de pecho dorado (es); königsglanzstar (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae

Range:
This species is found in East Africa, from southern and eastern Ethiopia, through Somalia and Kenya and into northern Tanzania.

Size:
These birds are 30-38 cm long and weigh 45-56 g.

Habitat:
The golden-breasted starling is found in arid areas, namely dry scrublands and savannas and to a lesser extent in dry grasslands.

Diet:
They catch insects in flight and dig up termite mounds to eat termites, but will also eat some fruits and berries.

Breeding:
Golden-breasted starlings are cooperative breeders, leaving in social groups of 3-12 individuals who help build the nest and feed the young. They nest in tree holes, where they build a cup nest made of leaves, roots and other plant materials. There the female lays 3-5 pale green eggs with red speckles, which are incubated for 11-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and other group members and fledge about 3 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status -  LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as locally common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Common myna

Acridotheres tristis

Photo by Richard Taylor (Wikipedia)

Common name:
common myna (en); mainá-comum (pt); martin triste (fr); miná común (es); hirtenmaina (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae

Range:
This species originates from southern Asia, from southern Iran and Afghanistan, through India, Nepal and Bangladesh and into Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. The common myna has been introduced to many areas outside their native range, namely the coasts of the Persian Gulf, Madagascar, South Africa, eastern Australia, northern New Zealand, several Pacific islands, Florida and southern Europe.

Size:
These birds are 23-26 cm long and weigh 110-140 g.

Habitat:
These birds are mostly found in agricultural areas, plantations and pastures, and readily adapt to urban environments. They are also found in mangroves and grasslands, from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
The common myna is omnivorous. They forage on the ground, feeding on insects, especially grasshoppers, and also arachnids, crustaceans, reptiles, small mammals, eggs of other birds, seeds, grain and fruits and discarded waste from human habitation.

Breeding:
Common mynas are monogamous and territorial. They breed in October-March and the nest is an open cup made of dry grass, twigs and leaves which may be placed in a tree hollow, cliff side, building or thick vegetation. The female lays 4-6 pale greenish-blue eggs, which she mostly incubates alone for 13-18 days. The chicks fledge 22-27 days after hatching but continue to receive food from parents for another 3 weeks. Each pair raises 2 broods per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be increasing as ongoing habitat degradation is creating new areas of suitable habitat and it is also expanding its range into new regions where they easily become an invasive species.

Greater blue-eared glossy-starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Photo by Loot Eksteen (Trek Nature)

Common name:
greater blue-eared glossy-starling (en); estorninho-metálico-grande-d'orelha-azul (pt); choucador à oreillons bleus (fr); estornino orejiazul (es); grünschwanz-glanzstar (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae

Range:
This species is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, from southern Mauritania and Senegal to Ethiopia and south through eastern Africa to north-eastern South Africa and Angola. They are absent from the rainforests along the Gulf of Guinea and the congo river basin.

Size:
These birds are 22 cm long and weigh around 90 g.

Habitat:
They are mostly found in dry savannas with dense undergrowth, namely Acacia and mopane Colosphermum mopane, but also in dry scrublands and some moist forests. They are also found in agricultural areas and around human settlements.

Diet:
These birds mainly feed on insects, such as grasshoppers, beetles and termites, but also frogs, small lizards, mice and some fruits.

Breeding:
They breed in August-January. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a simple pad of dry grass and feathers placed in a tree cavity, either natural or an old woodpecker or barbet hole. The female lays 2-5 eggs, which she incubates alone for 13-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 3-4 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is is reported to be common to abundant. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Rosy starling

Sturnus roseus

Photo by Eyal Bartov (Eyal Bartov's Photos)

Common name:
rosy starling (en); estorninho-rosado (pt); étourneau roselin (fr); estornino rosado (es); rosenstar (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae


Range:
This species is found in eastern Europe and central Asia, from Greece, around the Black Sea and into southern Russia, northern Iran, Kazakhstan and north-western China. They migrate south to winter in India.


Size:
These birds are 18-22 cm long and have a wingspan of 37-40 cm. They weigh 60-90 g.


Habitat:
Rosy starlings are mainly found in steppe and semi-desertic areas, namely grasslands, dry savanna, rocky outcrops, pastures and also in agricultural areas such as vineyards and orchards.


Diet:
In spring and summer they are mainly insectivorous, taking grasshoppers, locusts and caterpillars. During the rest of the year their diet also includes a significant portion of nectar, fruits and berries, namely grapes, mulberries, cherries, apricots, dates and even chillies.


Breeding:
Rosy starlings breed in May-July. The nest is rough cup made of grasses and twigs, lined with feather and finer grass, and placed in holes and crevices, such as gaps between rocks in scree slopes or abandoned holes made by other species. The female lays 3-7 pale blue eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 13-16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 21-26 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and a global population estimated at 500.000-2.500.000 individuals. The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the impacts of habitat modification on population sizes.

Spotless starling

Sturnus unicolor

Photo by Celestino Costa (Flickriver)

Common name:
spotless starling (en); estorninho-preto (pt); étourneau unicolore (fr); estornino negro (es); einfarbstar (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae


Range:
This species is found in south-western Europe, in Portugal, Spain, France and in the islands of Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica. It is also found in north-west Africa, in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.


Size:
These birds are 19-23 cm long and have a wingspan of 30-40 cm. They weigh 70-100 g.


Habitat:
The spotless starling is found in open woodlands, scrublands, grasslands  and pastures, often associated with cattle, but they are also common in urban areas, rural gardens, plantations and arable land.


Diet:
They mostly eat invertebrates during spring and summer and seeds and fruits during the rest of the year. These birds are rather opportunistic, taking advantage of occasional food sources, like fruits in vineyards and olive orchards, insects flushed by ploughing and cattle grazing and even eating human trash.


Breeding:
Spotless starlings breed in March-July. The nest is a foundation of twigs, dry grass, herbs and cereal stalks lined thickly with rootlets, grass, leaves, flowers, and feathers. It is placed in a hole, usually in a human-made structure but also in trees or rock faces. The female lays 3-6 blue-greenish eggs, which are incubated for 10-12 days. The chicks fledge 20-22 days after hatching. Each pair typically  raises 2 broods per season.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a large breeding range and a global population estimated at 10-20 million individuals. The population is suspected to be increasing due to a range expansion in Iberia.

Red-winged starling

Onychognathus morio

Photo by Doug Butcher (Birdlife Trogon's Bird Club)

Common name:

red-winged starling (en); estorninho-d'asa vermelha (pt); rufipenne morio (fr); estornino de alas rojas africano (es); rotschwingenstar (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Sturnidae

Range:

This African species is patchily distributed from Ethiopia through Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi and into northern Mozambique and Zimbabwe, eastern Botswana and South Africa.

Size:

These birds are 27-30 cm long and weigh 125-140 g.

Habitat:

Red-winged starlings are mostly found in rocky outcrops and gorges in highland grasslands, occasionally visiting forests and, in recent times, becoming increasingly common in urban areas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 4.000 m.

Diet:

They mostly eat fruits and arthropods, including termites, locusts, ticks, spiders, millipedes and scorpions. However, these birds are extremely adaptable, being known to pick up human food scraps at picnic sites, eating carrion and even taking molluscs and fresh water crabs from intertidal zones. They may occasionally also eat other birds.

Breeding:

Red-winged starlings form monogamous pairs which probably mate for life. They breed in September-March, with both sexes building the nest, a large flat platform built of sticks, grass and rootlets secured together with mud, lined with grass and hairs. The nest is typically placed on a rock or building ledge, on a beam or at the base of a palm frond. There the female lays 2-4 blue eggs with red-brown spots, which she mostly incubates alone for 13-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 22-28 days after hatching. Each pair usually produces 2 broods per season, but while the first brood is chased away just 2 weeks after fledging, the second brood often remains with the parents for 5-6 weeks after fledging.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common to abundant in most areas. The population is suspected to be increasing as it has successfully adapted to urban areas.

Hildebrandt's starling

Lamprotornis hildebrandti

Photo by Neal Feans (Wikipedia)

Common name:

Hildebrandt's starling (en); estorninho-metálico-de-Hildebrandt (pt); choucador de Hildebrandt (fr); estornino de Hildebrandt (es); Hildebrandt-glanzstar (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Sturnidae

Range:

This African species is only found in Kenya and Tanzania.

Size:

The Hildebrandt's starling is 18 cm long and weighs 50-70 g.

Habitat:

This species is found in open woodlands and open thornbush areas, generally at altitudes of 600-2.000 m.

Diet:

They feed on the ground, taking grasshoppers and beetles, but also seeds and fruits of plants like Carissa edulis, Euclea, Rhus and Apodytes dimidiata.

Breeding:

Hildebrandt's starlings have 2 breeding periods, one in March-May and another in October-December. Although they usually breed in pairs, cooperative breeding has been recorded on some occasions. They nest in tree cavities, either natural or old woodpecker nests, building a nest cup inside the cavity using plant fibres. There the female lays 3-4 eggs, which she incubates alone for 12-14 days. The chicks fledge 19-22 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a relatively large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, the species is described as uncommon. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Red-billed oxpecker

Buphagus erythrorhynchus

(Photo from Desktop Nexus)

Common name:

red-billed-oxpecker (en); pica-boi-de-bico-vermelho (pt); piquebœuf à bec rouge (fr); picabueyes piquirroje (es); rotschnabel-madenhacker (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Sturnidae

Range:

This African species ccurs in patches from Ethiopia and Somalia through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia, and into noth-eastern Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and north-eastern South Africa.

Size:

These birds are 19-22 cm long and weigh 42-60 g.

Habitat:

Red-billed oxpeckers live in open savannas, bushlands, and forests that contain large mammals including domestic livestock. They are found up to an altitude of 2.745 m.

Diet:

These birds obtain the whole of their food on the bodies of large herbivorous mammals, especially plains zebra Equus quagga, rhinoceros, giraffe Giraffa camelopardis, horses, donkeys, goats and bovines, specifically antelope, cattle and African buffalo Syncerus caffer. They take parasites such as ticks, fleas, biting flies and their larvae taken from the host mammals. They also feed on blood, dead tissues and skin from fresh wounds, thus keeping the area clean and preventing infection or infestation by fly larvae, although this also leaves the wound open and unhealed, which is disadvantageous to the mammal.

Breeding:

Red-billed oxpecker nest in October-March. They are onogamous, cooperative breeders, with the breeding pair being assisted by up to 7 helpers who are usually unmated adults and juveniles from the previous breeding season. They nest in natural tree cavities or in holes in rocks or stone walls, lining the interior with hair from its mammal hosts, dung, grass and rootlets. The female lays 2-5 eggs which are incubated by both sexes for about for 12-13 days. The chicks are fed by all members of the group, fledging about 30 days after hatching but only becoming fully independent 2 months later.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

Although the global population size has not been quantified, this species is described as locally common over its very large breeding range. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to the reduction in numbers of large game host species and the dipping of domestic cattle, but the species is not considered threatened at present.

Bank myna

Acridotheres ginginianus

Common name:

bank myna (en); mainá-ribeirinho (pt); martin des berges (fr); miná ribereño (es); ufermaina (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Sturnidae

Range:

This Asian species is found from eastern Pakistan across the Himalayan foothills to eastern and southern Nepal and Bhutan, and southwards to north-central India and Bangladesh. It has been introduced to Japan and the United Arab Emirates, where it has spread to several neighbouring countries, including Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Size:

The bank myna is 22-23 cm long and weighs 64-76 g.

Habitat:

This species is closely associated to man-made habitats, often being found inside cities and in agricultural fields. They are common in refuse dumps and in open countryside with cattle, favouring wetter areas where it forages along the banks of rivers or irrigation canals.

Diet:

Bank mynas are omnivorous, often feeding in large flocks. They forage on grain, namely sorghum, grape and pearl millet, but also take fruits and insects including crop pests such as Achaea janata. They take a variety of small animals includinf frogs, snails and earthworms and also scavenge on the ground amongst people in busy markets or at refuse heaps, and in rural areas it is often found following ploughs to feed on upturned insects. They also regularly settle on the backs of cattle to remove ticks from them.

Breeding:

These birds breed in May-August. The nest is built with grasses feathers and refuse, at the end of a long, narrow tunnel excavated in earth walls, on the banks of rivers, embankments or the sides of open wells. They will sometimes make use of holes in brick walls. There the female lays 4-5 pale sky blue or greenish-blue eggs which she mostly incubates alone for 13-14 days. Both parents cooperate to feed the chicks, which fledge from the nest 20-22 days after hatching. Each pair may raise 2 broods in a season.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as common to fairly common in most of its very large breeding range. This population is suspected to be increasing as ongoing habitat degradation is creating new areas of suitable habitat for species that are well adapted to man-made habitats, such as the bank myna.

Purple glossy-starling

Lamprotornis purpureus

Photo by Steve Riall (Flickr)

Common name:

purple glossy-starling (en); estorninho-metálico-purpura (pt); choucador pourpré (fr); estornino purpúreo (es); purpurglanzstar (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Sturnidae

Range:

This African species is found from Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, eastwards along souther Mali, northern, southern Chad and into South Sudan, Uganda and western Kenya.

Size:

They are 22-27 cm long and weigh 140 g.

Habitat:

They are typically found in open woodlands, savannas, scrublands and cultivated areas.

Diet:

The purple glossy-starling is omnivorous, taking fruits, berries, seeds and various invertebrates.

Breeding:

These birds nest in tree holes, where the female lays 2-4 eggs which she incubates alone for 12-14 days. Both male and female feed the chicks until fledging, which takes place 19-22 days after hatching. The chicks may continue to be fed by their parents for another 2 weeks.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and although the global population size has not been quantified, the species is described as common and often abundant. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats, so this species is not considered threatened at present.