Violet-backed starling (cinnyricinclus leucogaster)

The Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) is a beautiful and attractive bird in the family Sturnidae, known for its striking purplish-blue color on its back. This bird can be found in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Gambia in the west to Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia in the east.

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Physical appearance The Violet-backed Starling has a fairly large body size, with a length of about 22-24 cm. In males, the back and tail are a striking bluish-purple, while the underside is white. The head, neck and chest are black with an attractive metallic sheen. Meanwhile, female birds have a lighter color, with purple on the back and tail which are more bluish, and black on the head, neck and chest which are less conspicuous. Habitat and Distribution The Violet-backed Starling can be found in a variety of habitats, including gallery forests, savannas, scrub and urban parks. They are distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with populations spanning from the Gambia and Senegal in the west to Eritrea and Ethiopia in the east, and as far south as Angola and Zambia. Food and Eating Habits The Violet-backed Starling is an all-eating bird, which eats a wide variety of foods such as fruit, insects and nectar. These birds have a habit of eating in trees or bushes, where they look for food by picking fruit or looking for insects in the leaves. Behavior The Violet-backed Starling is a social bird and is often found in large groups. They like to congregate in large trees, especially near water sources, where they can quench their thirst. This bird is also known for its melodious humming habit, which is often considered one of the most beautiful sounds in the bird world.

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Reproduction The Violet-backed Starling usually nests in tree holes or rock crevices, with the female responsible for building the nest and incubating the eggs. They usually lay 2-4 eggs, and these eggs are incubated for about 14 days. After hatching, the young will remain in the nest for about 3 weeks before starting to fly and find food on their own.

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Threats To Population The current population of the Violet-backed Starling is not known, but is thought to be in decline due to habitat loss and hunting. However, this bird is not considered endangered and is listed in the "low risk" category on the IUCN Red List.