Animalia Life

Lamprotornis cupreocauda
SUBFAMILY
Sturninae
TAXONOMY
Lamprocolius cupreocauda Hartlaub, 1857. Considered closely related to Lamprotornis purpureiceps and some consider these as variants of the same species.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Coppery-tailed glossy-starling; French: Choucador а queu bronzйe; German: Kupferglanzstar; Spanish: Estornino de Cola Cobriza.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
7.1–8.3 in (18–21 cm); weight 1.9–2.3 oz (53–66 g). Dark blueviolet glossy plumage with copper-brown tail feathers and blackish bill and legs. Juvenile is sooty brown with a slight purple gloss on the crown and a tinge of glossy green on upper parts.
DISTRIBUTION
West Africa from Sierra Leone to Ghana.
HABITAT
Mature lowland forest canopy in both primary and cutover forest; especially riverine forest.
BEHAVIOR
Endemic resident. Seen in flocks of up to 50 birds; sometimes joins mixed-species flocks; flight swift and direct.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Diet includes fruit, especially figs, and insects found in the forest canopy.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nest and eggs unknown, but adults have been seen at holes in dead trees in October and fledged young seen in December; adult also seen with three fledged young in February.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Near Threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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