He’s a Pretty Boy: Amethyst Starling

April 13, 2011 · by CarlyB · in Amethyst Starling, beautiful, bird, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster, colorful, Violet-backed Starling

image credit: Stavenn

image credit: umpbump

image credit: oiseaux.net

image credit: Jerry Ting

Habitat: Sub-Saharan Africa
Status: Least Concern

Here’s the striking Amethyst Starling or Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster). The purple and indigo feathers are quite a sight to behold amongst the common greens and browns found in its grassy environment. However, the above photos are only of male Amethyst Starlings… take a peak at the female:

image credit: ask.com

Boringggg! This is a great example of sexual dimorphism – differences in appearance between the two sexes of a species – where, once again, the female sucks.

6 comments on “He’s a Pretty Boy: Amethyst Starling”

1. rebecca on April 14, 2011 at 1:39 am said:

   You would be fan of phalaropes then – one of the few groups of birds in which the females are the pretty ones.

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2. lalligood on April 14, 2011 at 1:55 am said:

   If you want an equal balance of pretty dimorphic male & female birds, check out the Eclectus parrot. (Despite the “eclectic” sounding name, people can own these parrots as pets.) The males are bright green with yellow/orange beaks while the females are red/bluish-purple with black beaks. Also their feathers are very fine–almost hair-like!

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3. CarlyB on April 14, 2011 at 3:23 am said:

   thanks you guys! This info is really helpful and interesting!!

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4. yuki on April 14, 2011 at 5:49 am said:

   some species of birds lose their breeding colors after breeding season, for one.and two, of course the girls are less brightly colored! they’re the ones who have to stay safe and alive to lay eggs after all the breeding hubbub! even the eclectus parrot – the females are serious homebodies, since nests are difficult to come by, and their bright red and blue colors are hard to see when they’re in a dark hole in a tree. the males usually feed females, and are green to camouflage themselves in the trees.

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5. Anonymous on April 14, 2011 at 6:08 am said:

   …also, look at the bright side: females don’t care because they’re the ones who choose who they’re going to procreate with!!

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6. Bryan on August 21, 2011 at 5:34 pm said:

   Beautiful birds, I just saw a bunch of them at my local zoo a few weeks ago

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