Fiery-browed starling

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Fiery-browed starling
Enodes erythrophris 64408767.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Enodes
Temminck, 1839
Species:
E. erythrophris
Binomial name
Enodes erythrophris
(Temminck, 1824)

The fiery-browed starling or fiery-browed myna [2] (Enodes erythrophris) is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is monotypic within the genus Enodes. Distinguished by a reddish-orange stripe over the eye, it is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, mainly living in humid highland forest.

Contents

Taxonomy

Coenraad Jacob Temminck described this species by the name Lamprotornis erythrophris in 1824, and then moved it to the genus Enodes in 1839. [3] It is monotypic within the genus Enodes, being the only species currently recognised. [4] Joseph Harvey Riley described subspecies centralis in 1920, [5] and Erwin Stresemann described subspecies leptorhynchus in 1932. The Handbook of the Birds of the World lists these two subspecies as "provisionally recognized" because they may only be colour variants, [6] while the IOC World Bird List does not recognise any subspecies. [4]

Description

The fiery-browed starling is 27–29 cm (10.6–11.4 in) long. The male and female are similar. The crown, back, throat, breast and belly are dark grey. A bright reddish-orange supercilium starts from the base of the beak and extends over the eye, the feathers behind the eye being black. The flight feathers are brown, their outer webs and the wing coverts covering them being olive-yellow. The rump is golden, and the graduated tail is olive-yellow, with a cream tip. The beak is black, and the legs are yellow. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This species is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. It is found at elevations of 500–2,300 m (1,600–7,500 ft), living mainly in montane rainforest and also in lowland forest, elfin forest and forest edges. [2]

Behaviour

This starling usually occurs in pairs or groups, and sometimes large flocks. It eats invertebrates and fruit, often climbing tree trunks to search for food. Mixed flocks with the Sulawesi myna and grosbeak starling, both also endemic to Sulawesi, have been observed at fruit-bearing trees. [2] Calls recorded include peeep, tik tik and various guttural notes, and the song is a repeated metallic zeek zeek. [2]

Status

This species has a small range, and its population appears to be in decline, but the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers that there are no substantial threats and lists it as a least-concern species. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starling</span> Family of birds

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. The Sturnidae are named for the genus Sturnus, which in turn 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 plumage. Starlings are native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as northern Australia and the islands of the tropical Pacific. Several European and Asian species have been introduced to these areas, as well as North America, Hawaii, and New Zealand, where they generally compete for habitats with native birds and are considered to be invasive species. The starling species familiar to most people in Europe and North America is the common starling, and throughout much of Asia and the Pacific, the common myna is indeed common.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myna</span> Various birds of the starling family

The mynas are a group of birds in the starling family (Sturnidae). This is a group of passerine birds which are native to southern Asia, especially India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Several species have been introduced to areas like North America, Australia, South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand, especially the common myna, which is often regarded as an invasive species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brahminy starling</span> Species of bird

The brahminy starling or brahminy myna is a member of the starling family of birds. It is usually seen in pairs or small flocks in open habitats on the plains of the Indian subcontinent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut-tailed starling</span> Species of bird

The chestnut-tailed starling, also called grey-headed starling and grey-headed myna is a member of the starling family. It is a resident or partially migratory species found in wooded habitats in India and Southeast Asia. The species name is after the distribution of a former subspecies in the Malabar region. While the chestnut-tailed starling is a winter visitor to peninsular India, the closely related resident breeding population with a white head is now treated as a full species, the Malabar starling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warbling white-eye</span> Species of bird

The warbling white-eye, also known as the Japanese white-eye and mountain white-eye, is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. The specific epithet is occasionally written japonica, but this is incorrect due to the gender of the genus. Its native range includes much of East Asia, including the Russian Far East, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, and the Philippines. It has been intentionally introduced to other parts of the world as a pet and as pest control, with mixed results. As one of the native species of the Japanese islands, it has been depicted in Japanese art on numerous occasions, and historically was kept as a cage bird.

<i>Gracula</i> Genus of birds

Gracula is a genus of mynas, tropical members of the starling family of birds found in southern Asia and introduced to Florida in the United States.

<i>Lamprotornis</i> Genus of birds

Lamprotornis is a large genus of glossy-starlings 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pied starling</span> Species of bird

The pied starling or African pied starling is a bird endemic to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini. It is common in most of its range, but largely absent from the arid northwest and the eastern lowlands of South Africa. It is found in open habitats such as grassland, karoo scrub, thornbush and agricultural land, and often associates with farm animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wattled starling</span> Species of bird

The wattled starling is a nomadic resident bird in eastern and southern Africa. It is a species of grassland, open woodland, and cultivation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulawesi myna</span> Species of bird

The Sulawesi myna is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apo myna</span> Species of bird

The Apo myna is a species of starling in the starling family Sturnidae. The species is also known as the Mount Apo starling or the Mount Apo king starling. It is the only member of the genus Goodfellowia. It is endemic to the Philippines found only in the tropical montane forests of Mindanao. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbott's starling</span> Species of bird

Abbott's starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss, and its population is estimated at 2500–9999. This species, at 16 to 18 cm long, is the smallest species of starling. It is in the monotypic genus Arizelopsar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-faced myna</span> Species of bird

The yellow-faced myna is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in New Guinea and nearby smaller islands, where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. The long-tailed myna was formerly included as a subspecies. One of the largest species of starling, this species attains 23 to 26 cm in length and weighs around 217 g (7.7 oz). They have dark plumage with a metallic lustre and bright orange facial markings and beak. These birds are social and omnivorous. Their diet consists of fruit and insects for which they forage high in the canopy. They are common birds with a wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed their conservation status as being of "least concern". It was named after Charles Dumont.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grosbeak starling</span> Species of bird

The grosbeak starling, also known as the grosbeak myna, finch-billed myna, or scissor-billed starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is monotypic in the genus Scissirostrum. It is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-winged myna</span> Species of bird

The black-winged myna is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. The species is also known as the black-winged starling or the white-breasted starling. It is endemic to Indonesia. There are three recognised subspecies: the nominate race, which occurs across much of the island of Java; tricolor, which is restricted to south east Java; and tertius, which is found on Bali and possibly Lombok. The validity of the records on Lombok has been called into question, as there are only a few records and those may represent escapees from the caged-bird trade or natural vagrants. The species has often been assigned to the starling genus Sturnus, but is now placed in Acridotheres because it is behaviourally and vocally closer to the birds in that genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-collared starling</span> Species of bird

The black-collared starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. Its plumage is black and white, with a black collar. It is found in southern China and most of mainland Southeast Asia, and has been introduced to Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. Its habitats include grassland, dry forest and human settlements. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as being of least concern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black cuckoo-dove</span> Species of bird from the Lesser Sunda Islands

The black cuckoo-dove, also known as the slaty cuckoo-dove, is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands, being found on Timor, Wetar, Rote, and Atauro. It inhabits primary and secondary monsoon forest, eucalyptus forest, and woodlands. It is 38.5 cm (15.2 in) long on average and is mainly dark bluish-gray, lighter on the head and underparts and darker on the wings and tail. It has yellow orbital skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulawesi thrush</span> Species of bird

The Sulawesi thrush is a species of passerine bird in the thrush family, Turdidae. It is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, where it inhabits evergreen montane forests at altitudes of 1,100–2,400 m (3,600–7,900 ft). Although it has a limited range and is not a common bird, the IUCN has assessed it as being a "least-concern species".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nias hill myna</span> Species of bird

The Nias hill myna or Nias myna is a member of the starling family. It is an endemic resident of Nias and other nearby islands off western Sumatra. Clements lumps this species with the common hill myna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-tailed myna</span> Species of bird

The long-tailed myna is a member of the starling family. It is native to the Bismarck and Solomon archipelagos. It resembles the yellow-faced myna, and the two were formerly considered conspecific.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2016). "Enodes erythrophris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22710997A94271863. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22710997A94271863.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Feare, Chris; Craig, Adrian (2010). Starlings and Mynas. A&C Black. pp. 139–140. ISBN   9781408135228.
  3. Temminck, Coenraad Jacob (1839). Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux. Vol. 1. p. 108.
  4. 1 2 Gill, F.; Donsker, D. (eds.). "Nuthatches, Wallcreeper, treecreepers, mockingbirds, starlings, oxpeckers". IOC World Bird List Version 9.1. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  5. Riley, J. H. (1920). "Four new birds from the Philippines and Greater Sunda Islands". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 33: 56.
  6. Craig, A.; Feare, C. "Fiery-browed Starling (Enodes erythrophris)". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D. A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions.