Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Scientific Name: Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Range: Senegal, Somalia, Namibia, Botswana

Habitat: Open arid riverine woodland up to 2500 meters high

Diet: Wild: Mainly fruits and insects on occasion
Zoo: Fruit

Gestation: Incubation: 12-14 days

Litter: Clutch size: 2-4 eggs

Life Span: Unknown in wild

Description: Not your typical drab starling with a short tail. The male is beautiful with a head, neck, back and tail of brilliant purple. The underside is white. The female, however, is drab; the purple of the male is replaced by olive green feathers and the white underside is flecked with green dashes.

Behavior: Tends to be migratory depending on season. They are very common and large flocks have been seen.

Reproduction: Depends on where in Africa, but breeding is usually in spring. Nests are in tree or fence holes only 2 to 6 meters above ground. The breeding pair both feed the young.

Did You Know? With the great coloration disparity between males and females and the fact that they do not resemble the common blue-black of starlings, they still are plump bird pests.

Where in the Zoo? I can be found in the African Elephant Crossing at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.