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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Jerdon's
starling, vinous-breasted starling |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Passeriformes |
| FAMILY: |
Sturnidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Sturnus
burmannicus |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
Jerdon's starling is a small bird with a light head,
a yellow bill, a dark stripe through each eye, and
a reddish breast. It has black back, wing and tail
feathers with distinctive whitish markings on the
edges of the wings. |
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| SIZE: |
30-37.5
cm (12-15 in.); wingspan 11.5-13 cm (4.6-5.6 in.) |
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| DIET: |
Mostly
feeds on insects and berries |
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| INCUBATION: |
Approximately 14 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
3-5
eggs |
| FLEDGING
DURATION |
Approximately
3 weeks |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits forests, savannahs, and grasslands |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
In
some regions, starlings are also referred to as
grackles. |
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| 2. |
Starlings
live in small family groups of 3-12 members and
are very noisy. |
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| 3. |
Starlings
live mainly on insects, termites being a favorite.
They catch the termites by opening their ground
tunnels with rapid flicks of their bill. |
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| 4. |
Starlings
use their beak to pry open small crevices in a unique
way. They first insert their beak, open it, then
they peer between the upper and lower mandibles
into the space for food. |
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| 5. |
Starlings
are excellent mimics, but also have a variety of
croaks, whistles, and hisses. Scientists believe
mimicking other bird songs is an extension of singing
ones own species song. Singing is a way to communicate
territory to other nearby males. If the starling
is able to successfully mimic the territory song
of other species, it may well keep those males out
as well. |
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Starlings
were first introduced to the U.S. in the 1800s.
Only 100 were released, but today more than 200
million are live here. Consequently, they compete
with native bird species for nesting sites.
Starlings
are also a food source for predators.
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|
| Austin,
G. Birds of the World. Golden Press, Inc.,
New York. 1961. |
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|
Gotch,
A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained.
Poole, Dorst: Blandford Press, 1981.
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| Perrins,
C. Birds: Their Life, Their Ways, Their World.
New York: The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
1979. |
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| Perrins,
C. M. and A. L.A. Middleton, eds. The Encyclopedia
of Birds. New York: Facts on File Pub. 1985. |
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| Perrins,
C. M. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Birds:
The Definitive Reference to Birds of the World.
New York: Prentice Hall Press. 1990. |
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| http://www.chaffeezoo.org/zoo/animals/starlings.html |
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| www.trevorzoo.org |
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