Brahminy Starling
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| Brahminy Starling Conservation status: Lower risk | ||||||||||||||
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| Missing image BrahminystarlingLL.jpg image:BrahminystarlingLL.jpg | ||||||||||||||
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| Sturnus pagodarum (Gmelin, 1789) |
The Brahminy Starling, Sturnus pagodarum, is a member of the starling family of birds. It is a resident breeder in eastern Afghanistan, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka.
This passerine is typically found in dry forest and scrub jungle. The Brahminy Starling builds a nest in hole. The normal clutch is 3-4 eggs.
The adults of these 21cm long birds have grey upperparts and orange-buff underparts. The head has a black crown, nape and crest, and the underneath of the tail is white. The bill and the strong legs are bright yellow, and there are yellow wattles on the nape.
The sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller, lack the crest, and have a brown crown.
Like most starlings, the Brahminy Starling is fairly omnivorous, eating fruit and insects.
Reference
- Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6