© GW - monacoeye • All rights reserved • Gambia • February

Bird name: Long-tailed Glossy Starling
Latin: Lamprotornis caudatus
Other: Étourneau sansonnet (Fr)
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings
Range: W, C Africa
Similar:

The Long-tailed Glossy Starling has an impressively long tail, is quite abundant throughout Gambia, and a common garden visitor. Often in groups, and with Purple Starlings. Pale irides. Vocal and conspicuous.

Below close up Long-tailed Glossy Starling, Gambia, Mar 2013
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© GW - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Gambia, Feb 2013

Bird name: Purple Starling
Latin: Lamprotornis purpureus
Other: Purple Glossy Starling (Helm) • Choucador pourpré (Fr)
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings
Range: W, C Africa
Similar: Bronze-tailed Starling

The Purple (Glossy) Starling was the other very common starling seen in the Gambia in most locations, especially gardens and fields. Beautiful purple sheen, yellow eye, short tail. Many at the Senegambia Hotel.

Below, Purple Starling. Gambia, Feb 2013.


Below, Purple Starling. Gambia, Feb 2013.
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© GW - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Gambia, Feb 2013

Bird name: Bronze-tailed Starling
Latin: Lamprotornis chalcurus
Other: Bronze-tailed Glossy-starling (UK) • Choucador à queue violette (Fr)
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings
Range: W, C, EC Africa.
Similar: Purple Starling

The Bronze-tailed Starling is much less common than the similar Purple Starling in Gambia. It can be identified by its orange iris and longer tail. I only saw them in Janjanbureh on my trip.

Below, Bronze-tailed Starling has a bath. Gambia, Feb 2013.
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© Tom C - monacoeye • All rights reserved • Tanzania, July

Bird name: Rüppell’s Starling
Latin: Lamprotornis purpuroptera
Other: Rueppell's Glossy-starling
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings
Range: NE, E Africa
Similar:

Thanks to Tom C for this shot of a Rüppel’s Starling in Tanzania.

© GW - monacoeye • All rights reserved • Spain • March

Bird name: Spotless Starling
Latin: Sturnus unicolor
Other: Étourneau unicolore (Fr) • Einfarbstar (De) • Estornino negro (Es) • Storno nero (It) • Estorninho-preto (Pt)
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings
Range: Spain, Portugal, SW France, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, NW AFrica
Similar: Common Starling

Just a couple of record shots of Spotless Starlings seen in the south of Madrid.More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved • Monaco • February

Bird name: Common Starling
Latin: Sturnus vulgaris
Other: European Starling, Starling (UK) • L'Étourneau sansonnet (Fr) • Star (De) • Estornino pinto (Es) • Storno (It) • Estorninho-comum (Pt)
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings
Range: Temperate Europe, W Asia, migrates south in the winter.
Similar: Blackbird, Spotless Starling (Spain, Portugal, Corsica)

Migrating Starlings are a common sight in cities in the winter, gathering in very large flocks and filling the trees of city squares. Large numbers arrive in Monaco in the winter, but authorities set up an anti-starling campaign over the last few years, with vans blasting hawk sounds, which seems to have had an effect.

Starlings are not just city birds, but also found in very large groups in the countryside and are a common garden bird. Like many other winter residents, near Monaco they favour olive trees and clear trees of all remaining olives in the winter months.

In the winter, birds are spotted: glossy dark with light tips to feathers. In the summer they lose this spotting. They have yellow bills, which darken in the winter, and so can be confused with blackbirds if only seen quickly.

A Common Starling in Reykjavik, May.
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Photo copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ngorongoro • Oct 2009

Bird name: Red Winged Starling
Latin: Onychognathus morio
Other:
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings

The characteristic red patch of this male Red-winged Starling is hidden behind the plants.

The Red-winged Starling lives in eastern Africa - this photo was taken in Ngorongoro in Tanzania.More photos...

Photos copyright: AS/monacoeye • Lake Nakaru • Oct 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Lesser Blue Eared Glossy Starling
Latin: Lamprotornis chloropterus
Other: Lesser Blue Eared Starling
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings

This is probably a Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-starling but there is a similar, larger, bird: the Greater Blue-eared Starling.More photos...

Photo copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lake Nakuru • Oct 2009

Bird name: Superb Starling
Latin: Lamprotornis superbus
Other:
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings

The aptly named Superb Starling lives in East Africa, seen here above at Lake Nakuru in Tanzania.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Ventimiglia • May 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Bank Myna
Latin: Acridotheres ginginianus
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings

Although Collins has the Common Myna as an established escape in Europe, this one seen in Ventimiglia at the weekend seems to be a Bank Myna, from the eye and bill colour … Originally from Northern India and Pakistan.More photos...

205 Sturnidae • Starlings, Mynas, Rhabdornis

Aplonis metallica - Metallic Starling - Moluccas to NE Australia
Aplonis circumscripta - Violet-hooded Starling - Tanimbar Islands
Aplonis mystacea - Yellow-eyed Starling - New Guinea
Aplonis cantoroides - Singing Starling - New Guinea to Solomon Islands
Aplonis crassa - Tanimbar Starling - Tanimbar Islands
Aplonis feadensis - Atoll Starling - Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands
Aplonis insularis - Rennell Starling - Solomon Islands
Aplonis magna - Long-tailed Starling - Biak Island, Numfor Island
Aplonis brunneicapillus - White-eyed Starling - Solomon Islands
Aplonis grandis - Brown-winged Starling - Solomon Islands
Aplonis dichroa - Makira Starling - Solomon Islands
Aplonis zelandica - Rusty-winged Starling - Santa Cruz Islands, Vanuatu
Aplonis striata - Striated Starling - Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia
Aplonis santovestris - Mountain Starling - Vanuatu - was Vanuatu Starling to Mountain Starling
Aplonis panayensis - Asian Glossy Starling - Widespread Asia
Aplonis mysolensis - Moluccan Starling - Moluccas
Aplonis minor - Short-tailed Starling - Sulawessi, lesser Sundas, Australasia, also S Philippines
Aplonis opaca - Micronesian Starling - Caroline Islands, Palau Islands, Mariana Islands
Aplonis pelzelni - Pohnpei Starling - Caroline Islands
Aplonis tabuensis - Polynesian Starling - S Polynesia
Aplonis atrifusca - Samoan Starling - Samoa
Aplonis cinerascens - Rarotonga Starling - Cook Islands
Mino dumontii - Yellow-faced Myna - New Guinea
Mino kreffti - Long-tailed Myna - Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands
Mino anais - Golden Myna - New Guinea
Basilornis celebensis - Sulawesi Myna - Sulawesi
Basilornis galeatus - Helmeted Myna - islands E of Sulawesi
Basilornis corythaix - Long-crested Myna - S Moluccas
Basilornis mirandus - Apo Myna - Philippines

Sarcops calvus - Coleto - Philippines

Streptocitta albicollis - White-necked Myna - Sulawesi
Streptocitta albertinae - Bare-eyed Myna - islands E of Sulawesi

Enodes erythrophris - Fiery-browed Starling - Sulawesi

Scissirostrum dubium - Grosbeak Starling - Sulawesi

Saroglossa spiloptera - Spot-winged Starling - NC India - NE India to Thailand

Ampeliceps coronatus - Golden-crested Myna - NE India through Southeast Asia

Gracula ptilogenys - Sri Lanka Hill Myna - Sri Lanka
Gracula religiosa - Common Hill Myna - Widespread Asia
Gracula indica - Southern Hill Myna - SW India, Sri Lanka
Gracula robusta - Nias Hill Myna - islands off Sumatra
Gracula enganensis - Enggano Hill Myna - islands off Sumatra

Acridotheres grandis - Great Myna - NE India through Southeast Asia
Acridotheres cristatellus - Crested Myna - S China to Southeast Asia
Acridotheres javanicus - White-vented Myna - Java
Acridotheres cinereus - Pale-bellied Myna - Sulawesi
Acridotheres fuscus - Jungle Myna - Widespread Asia
Acridotheres albocinctus - Collared Myna - NE India to SC China
Acridotheres ginginianus - Bank Myna - Pakistan, India, Bangladesh
Acridotheres tristis - Common Myna - Widespread Asia
Acridotheres melanopterus - Black-winged Starling - Java
Acridotheres burmannicus - Vinous-breasted Starling - SW China to Cambodia & Vietnem - was Sturnus

Spodiopsar sericeus - Red-billed Starling - C, S, E China - from Sturnus
Spodiopsar cineraceus - White-cheeked Starling - E Eurasia - s China

Gracupica nigricollis - Black-collared Starling - S China to Cambodia & Vietnam - from Sturnus
Gracupica contra - Pied Myna - Widespread Asia

Agropsar sturninus - Daurian Starling - E Eurasia - Southeast Asia - from Sturnus
Agropsar philippensis - Chestnut-cheeked Starling - E Eurasia - Philippines, Sulawesi, Borneo

Sturnia sinensis - White-shouldered Starling - S China to Cambodia & Vietnam - from Sturnus
Sturnia malabarica - Chestnut-tailed Starling - Widespread Asia
Sturnia erythropygia - White-headed Starling - Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands
Sturnia blythii - Malabar Starling - SW India - split from S. erythropygius
Sturnia pagodarum - Brahminy Starling - E Afghanistan to Bangladesh

Sturnornis albofrontatus - White-faced Starling - Sri Lanka - from Sturnus

Leucopsar rothschildi - Bali Myna - Bali
Pastor Separate Rosy Starling from Sturnus to Pastor
Pastor roseus - Rosy Starling - SE Europe to WC Asia - India, Sri Lanka

Sturnus vulgaris - Common Starling - W, C, introduced worldwide
Sturnus unicolor - Spotless Starling - SW Europe, Eurasia, also N Africa

Creatophora cinerea - Wattled Starling - E, S Africa

Notopholia corruscus - Black-bellied Starling - E, SE Africa - was Lamprotornis

Hylopsar purpureiceps - Purple-headed Starling - W, C Africa - was Lamprotornis
Hylopsar cupreocauda - Copper-tailed Starling - W Africa

Lamprotornis nitens - Cape Starling - C, S Africa
Lamprotornis chalybaeus - Greater Blue-eared Starling - Widespread Africa
Lamprotornis chloropterus - Lesser Blue-eared Starling - W, C, E, SE Africa
Lamprotornis elisabeth - Miombo Blue-eared Starling - E Africa
Lamprotornis chalcurus - Bronze-tailed Starling - W, C, EC Africa
Lamprotornis splendidus - Splendid Starling - Widespread Africa
Lamprotornis ornatus - Principe Starling - Príncipe
Lamprotornis iris - Emerald Starling - W Africa
Lamprotornis purpureus - Purple Starling - W, C Africa
Lamprotornis purpuroptera - Rüppell's Starling - NE, E Africa
Lamprotornis caudatus - Long-tailed Glossy Starling - W, C Africa
Lamprotornis regius - Golden-breasted Starling - E Africa
Lamprotornis mevesii - Meves's Starling - S Africa
Lamprotornis australis - Burchell's Starling - SC Africa
Lamprotornis acuticaudus - Sharp-tailed Starling - C Africa
Lamprotornis superbus - Superb Starling - NE, E Africa
Lamprotornis hildebrandti - Hildebrandt's Starling - Kenya, Tanzania
Lamprotornis shelleyi - Shelley's Starling - NE, E Africa
Lamprotornis pulcher - Chestnut-bellied Starling - W, C, NE Africa
Lamprotornis unicolor - Ashy Starling - Kenya, Tanzania
Lamprotornis fischeri - Fischer's Starling - E Africa - from Spreo
Lamprotornis bicolor - Pied Starling - S Africa
Lamprotornis albicapillus - White-crowned Starling - E Africa

Hartlaubius auratus - Madagascar Starling - Madagascar - from Saroglossa

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster - Violet-backed Starling - Widespread Africa, also SW Arabian Peninsula

Onychognathus morio - Red-winged Starling - E, SE, S Africa
Onychognathus tenuirostris - Slender-billed Starling - E Africa
Onychognathus fulgidus - Chestnut-winged Starling - W, C Africa
Onychognathus walleri - Waller's Starling - WC, C, E Africa
Onychognathus blythii - Somali Starling - Somalia, Ethiopia
Onychognathus frater - Socotra Starling - Socotra Island
Onychognathus tristramii - Tristram's Starling - Arabian Peninsula
Onychognathus nabouroup - Pale-winged Starling - SW Africa
Onychognathus salvadorii - Bristle-crowned Starling - E Africa
Onychognathus albirostris - White-billed Starling - Ethiopia
Onychognathus neumanni - Neumann's Starling - C, W Africa

Poeoptera stuhlmanni - Stuhlmann's Starling - C, NE, E Africa
Poeoptera kenricki - Kenrick's Starling - Kenya, Tanzania
Poeoptera lugubris - Narrow-tailed Starling - W, C Africa
Poeoptera sharpii - Sharpe's Starling - E Africa - was Pholia
Poeoptera femoralis - Abbott's Starling - Kenya, Tanzania - was Cinnyricinclus

Grafisia torquata - White-collared Starling - W, C Africa

Speculipastor bicolor - Magpie Starling - E Africa

Neocichla gutturalis - Babbling Starling - C Africa

Rhabdornis mystacalis - Stripe-headed Rhabdornis - Philippines - was "Creeper"
Rhabdornis inornatus - Stripe-breasted Rhabdornis - Philippines
Rhabdornis grandis - Grand Rhabdornis - Philippines - new name