Photo: Henrik Grønvold / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Copper-tailed Starling
Hylopsar cupreocauda
Copper-tailed Starling (Hylopsar cupreocauda) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Copper-tailed Starling (Hylopsar cupreocauda) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 58 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Sturnidae Starlings, Rhabdornises
- Genus Hylopsar
- Species cupreocauda
Quick facts
- Weight
- 58 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Copper-tailed Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Copper-tailed Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Copper-tailed Starling (Hylopsar cupreocauda) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sierra Leone to Ghana.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 58 g, with a wing length of about 11.9 cm and a tail of around 7.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 345,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Copper-tailed Starling?
The Copper-tailed Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 58 g.
Where does the Copper-tailed Starling live?
The Copper-tailed Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sierra Leone to Ghana, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Copper-tailed Starling belong to?
The Copper-tailed Starling (Hylopsar cupreocauda) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Copper-tailed Starling eat?
The Copper-tailed Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Copper-tailed Starling migrate?
The Copper-tailed Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Copper-tailed Starling endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Copper-tailed Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Copper-tailed Starling can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Copper-tailed Starling's range?
The Copper-tailed Starling has a mapped global range of about 345,000 km².
Conservation
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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