Purple-headed Starling
Hylopsar purpureiceps
A small glossy starling often found in the canopy of fruiting trees in groups of varying sizes, sometimes with other species of starling. Note the glossy green-blue body, the dark purplish head and throat that can appear black at a distance, and the short tail. Distinguished from other glossy starlings by its short tail and relatively unicolored appearance. Calls include a whistled “twa!” or “wheet!” as well as more starling-like chattering “reer” or “heer” notes.
Identification
The purple-headed starling (Hylopsar purpureiceps), also known as the purple-headed glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae.
Taxonomy
Genus: Hylopsar; Family: Sturnidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Hylopsar purpureiceps
- Authority
- (Verreaux, J & Verreaux, É, 1851)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Genus
- Hylopsar
Range and habitat
It is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Malawi, Nigeria, and Uganda.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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A typical house-martin, with dark upperparts, white underparts, a white rump, and a rather dumpy body. Differs from Common and Asian House-Martins by its sooty throat. Upperparts can have a bluish gloss if seen in good light. Breeds on ridges and cliffs, and occasionally around human settlements. Associates with other swallows and swifts, often gathering over water to catch emerging insects.
Rock Sandpiper
Calidris ptilocnemis
Plump, rock-loving shorebird with slightly droopy bill. Most often seen in nonbreeding plumage, which is fairly dark gray with heavily spotted underparts. Color of legs and base of bill varies from dull greenish to orangey. Breeding plumage shows reddish back and smudgy black belly. Juveniles show some rusty tones and have neat white fringes on wing feathers. Some variation across range; breeding population on Pribilof Islands in Alaska is larger and paler. Breeds on tundra; winters on rocky coastlines, sometimes feeding on mudflats. Typically in flocks in winter, often mixed with turnstones or Surfbird. Extremely similar to Purple Sandpiper but no range overlap.
Diamantina Tapaculo
Scytalopus diamantinensis
Gray tapaculo with a black-barred buff vent. Females are browner above. Has a very small range, where it inhabits forests with dense understory at high elevations. The simple song consists of a single “chik” note repeated for long periods.
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