Photo: J G Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Narrow-tailed Starling
Poeoptera lugubris
Narrow-tailed Starling (Poeoptera lugubris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Narrow-tailed Starling (Poeoptera lugubris) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 38.8 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 Poeoptera
- Species lugubris
Where it lives
Sierra Leone and Liberia east to western Uganda, eastern, central DR Congo and northern Angola
Quick facts
- Weight
- 38.8 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Narrow-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 Narrow-tailed Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Narrow-tailed Starling (Poeoptera lugubris) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sierra Leone and Liberia e to w Uganda, e, c DR Congo and n Angola.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 38.8 g, with a wing length of about 8.8 cm and a tail of around 10.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 612,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Narrow-tailed Starling?
The Narrow-tailed Starling is a small bird that weighs around 38.8 g.
Where does the Narrow-tailed Starling live?
The Narrow-tailed Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sierra Leone and Liberia e to w Uganda, e, c DR Congo and n Angola, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Narrow-tailed Starling belong to?
The Narrow-tailed Starling (Poeoptera lugubris) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Narrow-tailed Starling eat?
The Narrow-tailed Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Narrow-tailed Starling migrate?
The Narrow-tailed Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Narrow-tailed 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.
How large is the Narrow-tailed Starling's range?
The Narrow-tailed Starling has a mapped global range of about 612,000 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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