Burchell's starling

Burchell's starling (Lamprotornis australis) or Burchell's glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. The monogamous and presumably sedentary[2] species is native to dry and mesic woodlands and savannah of southern Africa. The name of this bird commemorates the English naturalist William John Burchell.[3]

Burchell's starling
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Lamprotornis
Species:
L. australis
Binomial name
Lamprotornis australis
(Smith, 1836)
  low density range
  high density range
Synonyms

Megalopterus australis A.Smith, 1836[2]

Range and habitat

It is found in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The species is absent from miombo woodland,[2] but is present in westerly gusu woodlands.

Habits and food

In the Kalahari they associate with camelthorn trees and also feed on their flowers. Their food includes flowers, fruit and small animals.[2] They breed during the summer months.

Status and numbers

The species is not threatened and is locally common in conservation areas.[2]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Lamprotornis australis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Craig, A.; Feare, C. (2018). "Burchell's Starling (Lamprotornis australis)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2003). Whose Bird? Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds. London: Christopher Helm. p. 72.


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