Metallic Starling

Aplonis metallica (Temminck, 1824)

Metallic Starling, Aplonis metallica, is a starling of Australasia that breeds in the Moluccas, New Guinea and nearby islands, extending to north-eastern Australia. It is a member of the starling family and was first described by Temminck in 1824. Adults show brilliant red eyes, a long forked tail and black plumage with a green sheen. Young birds are paler underneath and marked with dark streaks. The species is highly social, and groups build untidy hanging nests in tall rainforest trees.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Sturnidae — Starlings, Rhabdornises

Breeding range

Australasia: Moluccas, New Guinea and satellites to ne Australia