Aplonis metallica metallica

(Temminck, 1824)

Vernacular names

English : Metallic starling
French : Stourne luisant

Classification

Class : Aves
Order : Passeriformes
Family : Sturnidae
Notes : 4 other subspecies known.

Identification

This species can grow up to 25 cm in length for a weight of 67 g. Pointed feathers on neck, long tail, small black bill, bright red eyes. Plumage shiny and glossy with green on breast and wings, blue on tail and purple on head.

Range and habitat

The species occurs in eastern Indonesia, in the Moluccas archipelago, then in New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands and north Australia. This subspecies occurs in Moluccas, New Guinea and north Australia. It lives in rainforests, forest edges, mangroves and woodlands, up to 3000 m.

Conservation

IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is considered to be common to locally abundant. Still hunted for food in some parts of its range.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation