Photo: Peale, 1848 / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Samoan Starling
Aplonis atrifusca
Samoan Starling (Aplonis atrifusca) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Oceans & Seabirds.
The Samoan Starling (Aplonis atrifusca) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 146 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 atrifusca
Where it lives
Savaii and Upolu (western Samoa) and Tutuila, Ofu, Olosega and Tau (American Samoa, central Polynesia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 146 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Samoan 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 Samoan Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Samoan Starling (Aplonis atrifusca) is a species of bird in the Sturnidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO Savaii and Upolu (w Samoa) and Tutuila, Ofu, Olosega and Tau (American Samoa, c Polynesia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 146 g, with a wing length of about 14.5 cm and a tail of around 10.3 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 3,083 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Samoan Starling?
The Samoan Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 146 g.
Where does the Samoan Starling live?
The Samoan Starling is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO Savaii and Upolu (w Samoa) and Tutuila, Ofu, Olosega and Tau (American Samoa, c Polynesia), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Samoan Starling belong to?
The Samoan Starling (Aplonis atrifusca) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Samoan Starling eat?
The Samoan Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Samoan Starling migrate?
The Samoan Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Samoan 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 Samoan Starling's range?
The Samoan Starling has a mapped global range of about 3,083 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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