Tristram's Starling
Onychognathus tristramii
Large, long-winged, and long-tailed starling. In flight, shows large orange wing panels. Males are glossy-black while females are browner overall. Noticeable from a distance by its unique call that often echos off desert wadi cliffs—a clear whistle “tuwheeuwheet.” Often found in small or medium flocks; can be tame and bold. Feeds on fruit, seeds, and arthropods.
识别特征
Tristram's starling 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.
分类信息
- 学名
- Onychognathus tristramii
- 命名信息
- (Sclater, PL, 1858)
- 目
- Passeriformes
- 科
- Sturnidae
- 属
- Onychognathus
分布与栖息地
This bird is found in deserts in Israel, Jordan, northeastern Egypt (Sinai Peninsula), western Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman, nesting mainly on rocky cliff faces. The species is becoming increasingly commensal with humans, feeding in towns and villages; this has enabled a recent northward spread in its distribution.
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
Tristram's starlings are omnivorous, feeding on fruit and invertebrates (mainly insects such as beetles, flies, butterflies, and bees; but also small snails). They have also been observed grooming Nubian ibex and domestic livestock for parasites. Although they do not migrate for the most part, they fly relatively long distances compared to other resident birds, which likely makes them important seed dispersers for fleshy-fruited desert plants. In addition, they often forage for scraps in human settlements.<p>Tristram's starlings breed during the spring and early summer. They nest in existing cavities in rocky cliffs and also in urban buildings. Pairs are monogamous. The male courts the female by bringing her insects and twigs. They lay 2-4 eggs, which are blue with brown spots. Females incubate alone, but both parents feed the chicks. The young leave the nest about a month after hatching. Some pairs raise a second brood in later in the season, using the same nest.<p>Tristram's starling is a gregarious and noisy bird, with a call that resembles a wolf whistle. Outside the breeding season the starlings live in groups of between ten and a few hundred individuals. However, pairs remain together throughout the year, even when they join a larger group.
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- stable
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Rusty-tailed Flycatcher
Ficedula ruficauda
Medium-sized brown flycatcher with an orangish tail. Note upright posture and broad-based pale bill. Forages quietly and usually singly in the lower levels of forest edge, both through gleaning and flycatching. Breeds in open forests in hilly and montane areas at 1500-3000 meters of elevation; in the winter, favors forest edge and clearings. Song is a descending whistle followed by a brief sputter of shorter notes: “Weee-pewchewchi!”
Pearly-breasted Cuckoo
Coccyzus euleri
Brownish above and white below with a black upper bill and yellow lower bill. The tail is long and graduated with black centers and white tips as seen from below. An austral migrant that occurs in humid forests, gallery forests and secondary forests. The song is a slow series of “kuoup” notes. Very similar to Yellow-billed Cuckoo, but lacks the Yellow-billed Cuckoo’s rusty flight feathers.
Rusty-crowned Babbler
Sterrhoptilus capitalis
A fairly small bird of lowland and foothill forest and edge, with a rufous crown and a gray back and cheek, all with whitish streaks. Also has dark wings and tail with white outer tail feathers, and off-white underparts blending to a pale orange throat. Note the slender black bill. Often joins mixed-species flocks and sometimes hangs upside down while feeding. Somewhat similar to Brown Tit-Babbler, but slightly larger, with a rufous crown and a white belly. Flocks give a jumble of squeaky chattering notes.
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