Grosbeak starling

Grosbeak starling
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Scissirostrum
Lafresnaye, 1845
Species: S. dubium
Binomial name
Scissirostrum dubium
(Latham, 1801)
Synonyms

Lanius dubium Latham, 1801

The grosbeak starling (Scissirostrum dubium), also known as the grosbeak myna, finch-billed myna, or scissor-billed starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is monotypic in the genus Scissirostrum.[2] It is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia.[1]

Its natural habitat is tropical lowland, and sometimes subtropical montane, lightly wooded forest areas and wetlands.[1]

This species nests in colonies, which frequently contain hundreds of pairs. Its nests are bored in rotting or dying tree trunks in woodpecker style. It eats fruit, insects, and grain.[2]

Grosbeak starlings are highly vocal, at their colonies and in feeding flocks.[2]

The grosbeak starling was first described by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801 under the binomial name Lanius dubium.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 BirdLife International (2012). "Scissirostrum dubium". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Feare, C., Craig, A., Croucher, B., Shields, C., & Komolphalin, K. 1998. Starlings and Mynas. Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-3961-X
  3. Latham, John (1801). Supplementum indicis ornithologici sive systematis ornithologiae (in Latin). London: Leigh & Sotheby. p. xviii.


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