Samoan starling

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Samoan starling
Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.143312 1 - Aplonis atrifusca (Peale, 1848) - Sturnidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Aplonis
Species:
A. atrifusca
Binomial name
Aplonis atrifusca
(Peale, 1849)

The Samoan starling (Aplonis atrifusca) is a large starling of the family Sturnidae. It is found in the Samoan Islands. The species has a dark brown, glossy appearance, with a long bill. Its natural habitat is tropical moist forest on volcanic islands, where it is common and more conspicuous than the Polynesian starling, which is found in the same habitat. Vocalizations include various whistles and other sounds. [2] This starling feeds on a variety of fruits, especially guava, and insects. Little is known of its mating or social habits, but it appears to nest year-round, in tree cavities. Its eggs are pale blue. [3] [4]

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<i>Aplonis</i> Genus of birds

Aplonis is a genus of starlings. These are essentially island species of Indonesia and Oceania, although some species' ranges extend to the Malay Peninsula, southern Vietnam and northeastern Queensland. The typical adult Aplonis starling is fairly uniformly plumaged in black, brown or dark green, sometimes with a metallic gloss. The eye ring is often distinctively coloured. Immatures of several species have dark streaked pale underparts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosrae starling</span> Extinct species of bird

The Kosrae starling, also known as Kosrae Island starling, and formerly as Kusaie Mountain starling, is an extinct bird from the family of starlings (Sturnidae). It was endemic to the montane forests on the island of Kosrae which belong to the Caroline Islands in the south-western Pacific.

The Tasman starling was described in 1836 by John Gould as a species which occurred on both Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. In 1928 Australian ornithologist Gregory Mathews recognized that the plumage of the race from Lord Howe Island was much browner and more greyish than the plumage of the Norfolk Island race and split the species into two forms, the Norfolk starling, and the Lord Howe starling. Both subspecies are now extinct, thus so the species.

The white-eyed starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in the Solomon Islands archipelago. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss.

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

The Rarotonga starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to the Cook Islands.

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

The Tanimbar starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to Indonesia.

The Makira starling, also known as the San Cristobal starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

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

The atoll starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in northern Melanesia: Green Islands, Nuguria, Ninigo, Hermit Islands and Ontong Java Atoll. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. The species apparently nests in holes in trees. It is threatened by habitat loss.

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

The brown-winged starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in the Solomon Islands archipelago. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

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

The long-tailed starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to the Schouten Islands off West Papua, in Indonesia, an important area of bird endemism. The species was once treated as part of a superspecies with the shining starling. There are two subspecies, the nominate race, which occurs on Biak, and brevicauda, which is found on Numfor Island. It occurs in a wide range of habitats at all altitudes, including natural forest and forest edges, as well as human modified secondary forests and gardens. In spite of its tiny global range the species is not considered threatened by human activities and remains common within its range, and is therefore listed as least concern by the IUCN.

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

The short-tailed starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Indonesia and the Philippines.

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

The Moluccan starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to Indonesia.

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

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

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

The Asian glossy starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan (introduced) and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest. There is also a huge number of this species inhabiting towns and cities, where they take refuge in abandoned buildings and trees. They often move in large groups and are considered one of the noisiest species of birds. In the Philippines, it is known as kulansiyang, galansiyang, or kuling-dagat.

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

The Polynesian starling is a species of starling of the family Sturnidae. It is found in the Samoan Islands, Fiji, Niue, Tonga, the Santa Cruz Islands and Wallis and Futuna. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and tropical moist forests. Various subspecies exist throughout this wide range, some darker in coloration and some lighter. Its call is a raspy buzz or rattle. Diet is fruit and insects.

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

The rusty-winged starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in the Santa Cruz Islands and Vanuatu.

The Huahine starling is an extinct bird from the genus Aplonis within the starling family, Sturnidae. It was endemic to the island of Huahine, in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, and therefore had the easternmost distribution of all Aplonis species in the Pacific region.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Aplonis atrifusca". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22710493A94248103. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22710493A94248103.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Pratt, H. Douglas; et al. (1987). The Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton University Press. ISBN   0-691-02399-9.
  3. Feare, Chris; Craig, Adrian (1998). Starlings and Mynas. Christopher Helm. pp. 130–131. ISBN   0-7136-3961-X.
  4. Craig, P. "Natural History Guide to American Samoa" (PDF). National Park of American Samoa, Department Marine and Wildlife Resources, American Samoa Community College. Retrieved 16 August 2009.