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.
The Pohnpei starling, also known as Pohnpei mountain starling or Ponape mountain starling, is an extremely rare or possibly extinct bird from the family of starlings (Sturnidae). It is endemic to the island of Pohnpei in the Pacific Ocean. It was called "sie" by the Pohnpei islanders. It was named after the Austrian ornithologist August von Pelzeln (1825–1891).
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 Samoan starling 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. 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.
The Rarotonga starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to the Cook Islands.
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.
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.
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.
The Rennell starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands.
The short-tailed starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Indonesia and the Philippines.
The Moluccan starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to Indonesia.
The yellow-eyed starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Micronesian starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Micronesia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.
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), Cambodia 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.
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.
The rusty-winged starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in the Santa Cruz Islands and Vanuatu.
The Socotra starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to Socotra island which is off the southeast coast of Yemen.
The spot-winged starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It breeds in northern India and western Nepal; it winters in Northeast India, north-eastern Bangladesh and Myanmar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. This species was first bred in the UK by Mrs K.M. Scamell in 1969. A detailed account of the breeding can be found in the January/February 1970 edition of Foreign Birds, the journal of the Foreign Bird League.
The brown-capped tyrannulet is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.
