Photo: Finsch, 1876 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pohnpei Starling
Aplonis pelzelni
Pohnpei Starling (Aplonis pelzelni) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Oceans & Seabirds.
The Pohnpei Starling (Aplonis pelzelni) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 47 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Sturnidae Starlings, Rhabdornises
- Genus Aplonis
- Species pelzelni
Where it lives
Montane Pohnpei (=Ponape, eastern Caroline Is., central Micronesia; perhaps extinct)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 47 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pohnpei 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 Pohnpei Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pohnpei Starling (Aplonis pelzelni) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO montane Pohnpei (=Ponape, e Caroline Is., c Micronesia; perhaps extinct).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 47 g, with a wing length of about 10 cm and a tail of around 6.4 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 61 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pohnpei Starling?
The Pohnpei Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 47 g.
Where does the Pohnpei Starling live?
The Pohnpei Starling is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO montane Pohnpei (=Ponape, e Caroline Is., c Micronesia; perhaps extinct), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Pohnpei Starling belong to?
The Pohnpei Starling (Aplonis pelzelni) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Pohnpei Starling eat?
The Pohnpei Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Pohnpei Starling migrate?
The Pohnpei Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pohnpei Starling endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
How large is the Pohnpei Starling's range?
The Pohnpei Starling has a mapped global range of about 61 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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