| Lamprotornis | |
|---|---|
_Kruger.jpg) | |
| Greater blue-eared starling, L. chalybaeus normanni | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Sturnidae |
| Genus: | Lamprotornis Temminck, 1820 |
| Type species | |
| Turdus caudatus[1] Statius Muller, 1776 | |
| Species | |
About 20, see text | |
Lamprotornis is a large genus of glossystarlings all of which occur inAfrica south of theSahara. They have glossy blue or green upper parts, which is due to hollowmelanin granules arranged in a single layer near the feather barbule's surface. This unique arrangement led to some glossy starlings formerly placed in the genusSpreo being transferred toLamprotornis, since they shared this feature (but see also below).
The genusLamprotornis was introduced by the Dutch zoologistCoenraad Jacob Temminckin 1820.[2] Thetype species was subsequently designated as thelong-tailed glossy starling.[3]
The under parts of these species lack iridescence. They may be blue, purple, yellow or brown. MostLamprotornis starlings have striking yellow or redirides and some have long tails.
These glossy starlings are found in a variety of habitats from forests to open woodland and gardens. They nest in tree holes, either natural, or made bywoodpeckers orbarbets, and some will use man-made structures. Most species are resident apart from seasonal or local movement, but Shelley's starling ismigratory. Most species are gregarious outside the breeding season.
Lamprotornis glossy starlings areomnivorous and mostly feed on the ground, although they will take fruit from trees. Some will feed on or near large mammals to find insects.
The genus contains 22 species.[4]
| Common Name | Scientific name | Image | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape starling | Lamprotornis nitens | _Kruger.jpg) | Southern Africa |
| Greater blue-eared starling | Lamprotornis chalybaeus | | Senegal east to Ethiopia and south through eastern Africa to northeastern South Africa and Angola |
| Lesser blue-eared starling | Lamprotornis chloropterus | %2c_Koubalan%2c_Senegal.jpg) | widespread in sub-Saharan Africa |
| Bronze-tailed starling | Lamprotornis chalcurus |  | Senegal through Nigeria to South Sudan and Kenya |
| Splendid starling | Lamprotornis splendidus |  | widespread in western and central Africa |
| Principe starling | Lamprotornis ornatus | .jpg) | endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe |
| Emerald starling | Lamprotornis iris (formerlyCoccycolius iris) |  | Guinea, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast |
| Purple starling | Lamprotornis purpureus | _-_Gambia.jpg) | tropical Africa from Senegal and northern Zaire east to Sudan and west Kenya |
| Rüppell's starling | Lamprotornis purpuroptera |  | Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia to Tanzania |
| Long-tailed glossy starling | Lamprotornis caudatus |  | tropical Africa from Senegal east to Sudan. |
| Golden-breasted starling | Lamprotornis regius |  | Ethiopia and Somalia to northern Tanzania |
| Meves's starling | Lamprotornis mevesii |  | southern Africa |
| Burchell's starling | Lamprotornis australis | _(16394703987).jpg) | southern Africa |
| Sharp-tailed starling | Lamprotornis acuticaudus |  | southern central Africa |
| Superb starling | Lamprotornis superbus (formerlySpreo superbus) |  | eastern Africa |
| Hildebrandt's starling | Lamprotornis hildebrandti (formerlyNotauges hildebrandti) | .jpg) | Ethiopia and Somalia to Kenya. |
| Shelley's starling, | Lamprotornis shelleyi | .jpg) | eastern Africa |
| Chestnut-bellied starling | Lamprotornis pulcher[5] (formerlySpreo pulcher) |  | Burkina Faso and western Africa |
| Ashy starling | Lamprotornis unicolor (formerlySpreo unicolor) | .jpg) | Kenya and Tanzania |
| Pied starling | Lamprotornis bicolor[6] (formerlySpreo bicolor) |  | South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland |
| Fischer's starling | Lamprotornis fischeri (formerlySpreo fischeri) | .jpg) | southern Ethiopia and Somalia to eastern Kenya and Tanzania |
| White-crowned starling | Lamprotornis albicapillus (formerlySpreo albicapillus) |  | Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. |
The limits of this genus have seen recent revision following phylogenetic analysis with molecular markers. For example, theblack-bellied starling is now placed in a separate genusNotopholia. On the other hand, genera such asCoccycolius,Spreo andCompsarus were found nested inLamprotornis and have been merged.[7][4]
Media related toLamprotornis at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toLamprotornis at Wikispecies