Purple Glossy-Starling
Lamprotornis purpureus
Silhouette: Rafael Maia · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilySturnidae (Starlings)
- GenusLamprotornis (Glossy Starlings and Allies)
- SpeciesLamprotornis purpureus (Purple Glossy-Starling)
About the Purple Glossy-Starling
The purple starling (Lamprotornis purpureus), also known as the purple glossy starling, is a member of the starling family of birds. It is a resident breeder in tropical Africa from Senegal and north Zaire east to Sudan and west Kenya. This common passerine is typically found in open woodland and cultivation.
The adults of these stocky 22–23 cm long birds have a metallic purple head and body, and glossy green wings. They have a short tail and a yellow eye. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are much duller, with grey underparts and a brown iris.
This is a gregarious and noisy bird, with typical starling squeaks and chattering. The purple starling builds a nest in a hole. The normal clutch is two eggs. Like most starlings, the purple starling is omnivorous, eating fruit and insects.
Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1 Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Purple Glossy-Starling in Kibale National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kibale National Park
Splendid Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis splendidus
Rüppell's Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis purpuroptera
Greater Blue-eared Starling
Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Purple-headed Starling
Hylopsar purpureiceps
Violet-backed Starling
Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Narrow-tailed Starling
Poeoptera lugubris
Waller's Starling
Onychognathus walleri
Chestnut-winged Starling
Onychognathus fulgidus
Stuhlmann's Starling
Poeoptera stuhlmanni
Slender-billed Starling
Onychognathus tenuirostris
Wattled Starling
Creatophora cinerea
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niokolo-Koba National Park | 🇸🇳 Senegal | |
| 2 | Murchison Falls National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 3 | Lake Mburo National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 4 | Kibale National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 5 | Kidepo Valley National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 6 | Semuliki National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 7 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 8 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 9 | Virunga National Park | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Purple Glossy-Starling in Kibale National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Purple Glossy-Starling sighting in Kibale National Park, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Purple Glossy-Starling in Kibale National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Purple Glossy-Starling in Kibale National Park in our monthly data.