Metallic starling facts for kids
The metallic starling (Aplonis metallica) is a beautiful bird. It is also called the shining starling. This bird belongs to the starling family. You can find it in places like the Moluccas, New Guinea, Queensland in Australia, and the Solomon Islands.
Quick facts for kids Metallic starling |
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| At Cairns, Queensland, Australia | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Aplonis
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| Species: |
metallica
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What They Look Like
Adult metallic starlings are quite striking. They have bright red eyes. Their tails are long and split, like a fork. Their feathers are black but shine with a green color. Young starlings look a bit different. They are lighter underneath and have dark stripes.
How They Behave
Metallic starlings are very social birds. They live in large groups called flocks. These flocks build interesting nests. The nests are round and look a bit messy. They hang from tall trees in the rainforest.
Nesting and Reproduction
These birds usually breed during the wet season. This is from October to March in some areas. They are not scared of people on the ground. This is because their nests are very high up. If there is a loud noise, they will fly out together. They circle around, then return to their nests. They move very quickly!
Migration
Some groups of metallic starlings travel long distances. In the early 1900s, some flocks were seen migrating. They would fly to Dunk Island in northern Queensland in August. There, they would find mates and build nests for their young. These nests also hung from tall trees. They stayed on Dunk Island until April. Then, they would fly back to New Guinea. You can also spot them in other parts of Queensland. These include Kuranda and Mossman Gorge.
Gallery
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Phoenix Zoo, Arizona
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Young starlings at Cairns Esplanade, North Queensland
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Female with nest in Cairns, Queensland
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Eating Ptychosperma elegans fruit in Cairns, Queensland
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Metallic starlings around high nests in the Daintree Rainforest, Queensland
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Male at San Diego Zoo, California, USA
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Cairns
