Emerald Starling - Coccycolius iris

The Emerald Starling or Iris Glossy Starling is found in West Africa. It is a beautiful metallic green starling with a metallic purple underparts and ear-coverts. The iris is dark brown and the bill and legs are black. Juveniles are more brown with some green. This starling is one of the smallest of the starlings.

Because of the lack of information on the numbers and extent of this species, the IUCN lists this species as 'Data Deficient'.

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Adult

Note the tongue 12/09/2013 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA Note the tongue 12/09/2013 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA	12/09/2013 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA 12/09/2013 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA	12/09/2013 - San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, San Diego, CA 12/09/2013 - San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, San Diego, CA
04/18/2014 - Houston Zoo, Texas 04/18/2014 - Houston Zoo, Texas	04/15/2012 - Houston Zoo, Texas 04/15/2012 - Houston Zoo, Texas	04/23/2012 - Houston Zoo, Texas 04/23/2012 - Houston Zoo, Texas
02/13/2013 - San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, San Diego, CA 02/13/2013 - San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, San Diego, CA	09/03/2013 - Bird Kingdom, Niagra Falls, ON, Canada 09/03/2013 - Bird Kingdom, Niagra Falls, ON, Canada

Diet: They primarily eat figs, and other fruit, seeds, and small insects (e.g., ants).

Courtship: They usually live in flocks of 15-20 birds and will occasionally gather into larger groups. Green leaves may play a part in their courtship rituals but not enough behavior has been observed to prove this.

Nesting: Both sexes build the cup-shaped nest in a tree cavity. The nest is usually made from green leaves but other vegetation matter may be sued. The female lays 2-4 eggs. The eggs are blue with reddish-brown patches. Only the female does the brooding. She has the brood pouch on her stomach (no feathers) which aids in transferring heat to the eggs. Both sexes will feed the chicks insects.

Habitat and Range: The Emerald Starling is found in Western Africa in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Cote d'lvoire. It's habitat is orchard bush and wooded and open savannas where it keeps to the top of tall trees.

Vocalization: One report said that they make wheezy and squeaky calls.

Plumage/Molt No information.

Migration: Probably not migratory.

Tongue/feet: Feet and legs are blacks.

Bibliography:

• http://en.wikipedia.org The Free Encyclopedia, Accessed July, 2012
• http://rosamondgiffordzoo.org/assets/uploads/animals/pdf/Yellow-billedCardinal.pdf Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, Accessed July, 2012
• http://birdlife.org BirdLife International, Accessed July, 2012
• Feare, Chris and Craig, Adrian, Starlings and Mynas,Christopher Helm Publishers, 1998

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