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 Murchison Falls National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Murchison Falls National Park
Rüppell's Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis purpuroptera
Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis chloropterus
Splendid Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis splendidus
Greater Blue-eared Starling
Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Bronze-tailed Glossy-Starling
Lamprotornis chalcurus
Superb Starling
Lamprotornis superbus
Violet-backed Starling
Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Wattled Starling
Creatophora cinerea
Purple-headed Starling
Hylopsar purpureiceps
Narrow-tailed Starling
Poeoptera lugubris
Red-winged Starling
Onychognathus morio
Piapiac
Ptilostomus afer
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 Murchison Falls National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Purple Glossy-Starling sighting in Murchison Falls National Park, based on 14 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Purple Glossy-Starling in Murchison Falls National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Purple Glossy-Starling in Murchison Falls National Park in our monthly data.