Glossy Starling
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Swartpensglansspreeu  Black-bellied Glossy StarlingLamprotornis corruscus Kruger National Park |
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Description - The smallest starling and least glossy starling. The belly and flanks are black. The male has a bronze gloss on the belly, only visible at close range. Female and juvenile are duller and appear black. Smaller and more slender than the Cape Glossy Starling, and a proportionately longer tail. 20-21 cm.
Distribution - Locally common resident in Mozambique and South African, on the east coast; also in a small area in the east of Zimbabwe (Rusito-Haroni area, in the summer).
Habitat - Coastal and riverine forests, in northern South Africa also in woodlands.
Call - Harsh, chippering notes interspersed with shrill whistles.
Other names - D Schwarzbauchglanzstar - ES Estornino Brillante - F Choucador à ventre noire - NL zwartbuik-glansspreeuw
Books
Ian Sinclair - A photographic guide to birds of Southern Africa. Struik Publ. ISBN 1-86872-553-7
Ian Sinclair et al. - Sasol birds of Southern Africa. Struik Publ. ISBN 1-86872-033-0
Kenneth Newman - Newman se voëls van Suider-Afrika. SAPPI. ISBN 1-868-12-758-3