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Photo: G.R. Gray, 1862 / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Singing Starling

Aplonis cantoroides

Singing Starling (Aplonis cantoroides) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.

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The Singing Starling (Aplonis cantoroides) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 55.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Sturnidae Starlings, Rhabdornises
  4. Genus Aplonis
  5. Species cantoroides

Where it lives

New Guinea and satellites, Boigu (northern Torres Strait is., far northeastern Australia), Bismarck Arch. (including Admiralty Is.), and Solomon Is.

Quick facts

Weight
55.7 g
Family
Sturnidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Singing Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.

Behaviour

A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The Singing Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Singing Starling (Aplonis cantoroides) is a member of the Sturnidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU New Guinea and satellites, Boigu (n Torres Strait is., far ne Australia), Bismarck Arch. (including Admiralty Is.), and Solomon Is.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 55.7 g, with a wing length of about 9.8 cm and a tail of around 7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 823,000 km².

Songs & calls

Recorded by Jan-Uwe Schmidt Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Singing Starling?

The Singing Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 55.7 g.

Where does the Singing Starling live?

The Singing Starling is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU New Guinea and satellites, Boigu (n Torres Strait is., far ne Australia), Bismarck Arch. (including Admiralty Is.), and Solomon Is, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Singing Starling belong to?

The Singing Starling (Aplonis cantoroides) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the Singing Starling eat?

The Singing Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.

Does the Singing Starling migrate?

The Singing Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Singing Starling endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Singing Starling make?

1 real field recording of the Singing Starling can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Singing Starling's range?

The Singing Starling has a mapped global range of about 823,000 km².

Conservation

Least Concern

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

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