Three-color gloss star
| Three-color gloss star | ||||||||||||
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Three-color gloss star |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Lamprotornis superbus | ||||||||||||
| Rüppell , 1845 |
The three-color gloss star ( Lamprotornis superbus ) is an East African bird from the starling family.
features
The plumage of the 18 centimeter long three-color star is glossy black on the top and shimmering blue-green on the neck and shoulders. The sides of the neck, the throat and the chest are shiny metallic blue. The chest band, rump and rump are white and the belly is rusty brown. This stocky-looking, short-tailed star has a wide repertoire of whistles and trills and also imitates the calls of other species.
Occurrence
The bird inhabits savannah, bush, farmland, outskirts and urban areas in Ethiopia , Somalia , Uganda , Kenya and Tanzania .
behavior
The three-color star looks for food on the ground, which consists of insects, molluscs and worms as well as fruits and grains. Where the birds flock, they can cause significant crop damage. In addition, they can be intrusive begging for food in villages and towns.
Reproduction
Both sexes build a spherical nest made of grass and twigs in thorn bushes, crevices or on trees. The clutch of four eggs is incubated for about twelve days. Both parent birds take care of the young.
literature
- Colin Harrison & Alan Greensmith: Birds. Dorling Kindersly Limited, London 1993, 2000, ISBN 3-831-00785-3
- Bryan Richard: Birds. Parragon, Bath, ISBN 1-405-45506-3
Web links
- Lamprotornis superbus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed on December 22 of 2008.
- Videos, photos and sound recordings for Lamprotornis superbus in the Internet Bird Collection