Lincoln Park Zoo

Common name: Emerald starling
Latin Name: Lamprotornis iris

Class: Birds
Order:    Passeriformes

Description
Named for its vibrant colors, the emerald starling has green, iridescent feathers on its chest and wings and purple markings on the belly and around the eyes.

Range
Western Africa

Status
Common

Habitat
Open savanna and woodlands

Niche
The emerald starling uses its strong beak to probe for insects and seeds in soil and heavy vegetation. In the wild, the species lives in flocks of 15–20 members; these flocks occasionally gather to form larger groups.

Life History
The emerald starling locates its nest in small holes found in tree stumps or trunks. The male and female cooperate in building the nest from leaves, and both bring food to chicks after they hatch.

2

Special Adaptations

  • Females possess a brood patch—a spot on their stomach lacking feathers—that helps them transfer body heat to their eggs.