Photo: DickDaniels (http://carolinabirds.org/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Metallic Starling
Aplonis metallica
Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 56.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Sturnidae Starlings, Rhabdornises
- Genus Aplonis
- Species metallica
Quick facts
- Weight
- 56.5 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Metallic 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 Metallic Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Moluccas, New Guinea and satellites to ne Australia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 56.5 g, with a wing length of about 10.7 cm and a tail of around 10 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 767,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Metallic Starling?
The Metallic Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 56.5 g.
Where does the Metallic Starling live?
The Metallic Starling is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Moluccas, New Guinea and satellites to ne Australia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Metallic Starling belong to?
The Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Metallic Starling eat?
The Metallic Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Metallic Starling migrate?
The Metallic Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Metallic 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 Metallic Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Metallic Starling — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Metallic Starling's range?
The Metallic Starling has a mapped global range of about 767,000 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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Guides for this bird
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