- Tristram's Starling
-
Tristram's Starling 
Tristam's Starling at Masada, Israel Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae Genus: Onychognathus Species: O. tristramii Binomial name Onychognathus tristramii
(Sclater, 1858)Tristram's Starling or Tristram's Grackle (Onychognathus tristramii) is a species of starling native to Palestine, Jordan, northeastern Egypt (Sinai Peninsula), western Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, nesting mainly on rocky cliff faces.[1] The species is named after Reverend Henry Baker Tristram.
Description
Female in Israel
A member of the genus Onychognathus, it is 25 cm long (including a 9 cm tail), with a wingspan of 44–45 cm, and a weight of 100–140 g. The males have glossy iridescent black plumage with orange patches on the outer wing, which are particularly noticeable in flight. The bill and legs are black. Females and young birds are similar but duller and with a greyish head, lacking the plumage gloss.[1][2]
Behaviour
It is gregarious and noisy, with a call that resembles a wolf whistle. They are omnivorous, feeding on fruit and invertebrates, and can also be observed grooming Nubian Ibex and domestic livestock for parasites. They are becoming increasingly commensal with man, feeding in towns and villages; this has enabled a recent northward spread in their distribution.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Snow, D. W. & Perrins, C. M. (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic Concise Edition. OUP ISBN 0-19-854099-X.
- ^ Mullarney, K., Svensson, L., Zetterström, D., & Grant, P. J. (1999). Collins Bird Guide. Harper Collins, London. ISBN 0-00-219728-6.
This Sturnidae-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
