Image via Macaulay Library
Metallic Starling
- Scientific name
- Aplonis metallica
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Conservation status
- Least concern
- Habitat
- Urban suburban
- Wing shape
- Rounded
- Tail shape
- Pointed
Where it came from
The Metallic Starling, Aplonis metallica, is a passerine bird native to the tropical forests of New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and parts of tropical North Queensland. It was formally described by the French naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1824. The species is characterized by its iridescent, glossy plumage which reflects a metallic sheen, and its distinctively long, graduated, and pointed tail, which sets it apart from other members of the starling family.
Evolutionarily, the Metallic Starling is recognized for its communal nesting habits, often constructing large, hanging, teardrop-shaped nests in tall trees. These colonial structures are a hallmark of the species, designed to protect them from predators in dense canopy environments. Its rounded wing shape supports the agile, erratic flight necessary for navigating the complex architecture of rainforest ecosystems while foraging for fruits and insects.
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About Metallic Starling
Metallic Starling is a bird in the Birdwatching catalog on collecto.rs. Catalog data is sourced from eBird. No public birds collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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