Neumann's Starling
Onychognathus neumanni
A large glossy-black starling with a wedge-shaped tail and brick-red windows in the wings that are striking in flight. The male and female have black and gray heads respectively. Pairs and flocks prefer rocky outcrops, cliffs, and gorges, within the savanna zone. Similar to Chestnut-winged Starling, but found in different habitat, and separated by being chunkier, with a much heavier bill and broader tail. The vocalizations are characteristic loud liquid oriole-like contact calls and other musical whistles and warbles.
Identification
This 25 cm long species is similar to other Onychognathus starlings, showing the characteristic rufous primary wing feathers, very obvious in flight. The iris is dark red, and the bill and legs are black. The male plumage is otherwise mainly glossy black, and the female is ash grey with darker streaking. The juvenile resembles the male, but is less glossy than the adult, and has brown rather than dark red eyes.<p>The song is a too-whee-oo, and the alarm call is a harsh air, air.<p>Western populations from western Mali and the Ivory Coast are smaller and shorter-tailed than the nominate form, O. n. neumanni, and are assigned to the subspecies O. n. modicus.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Onychognathus neumanni
- Authority
- (Alexander, 1908)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Genus
- Onychognathus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The red-winged starling builds a nest of grass on a ledge in a sheltered site such as a cave. It is also associated with human settlement, and some related red-winged starling species are known to use man-made structures as nest sites.<p>This species is territorial, aggressive and intolerant when nesting, and will attack other species, including birds of prey.<p>Like other starlings, the Neumann's red-winged starling is an omnivore, taking a wide range of fruit, including figs, and some invertebrates. It is highly gregarious, and will form large flocks when not breeding.
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
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