Aplonis is a genus ofstarlings. These are essentially island species ofIndonesia andOceania, although some species' ranges extend to theMalay Peninsula, southernVietnam and northeasternQueensland. The typical adultAplonis 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.
Several species have restricted ranges, and, like other island endemics, have become endangered or extinct as a result of habitat loss or introduced mammals such as rats.
The genusAplonis was introduced in 1836 by the English ornithologistJohn Gould.[2] He listed two species in the new genus but did not specify which was thetype species. In 1840George Gray designated theAplonis fusca Gould 1836 as the type. This is the extinctTasman starling.[3][4] The genus name is fromAncient Greekhaploos meaning "simple" or "plain" andornis meaning "bird".[5]
The genusAplonis contains 25 species. Of these three have become extinct in historical times:[6]
