''Aplonis'' is a genus of
starling
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. The Sturnidae are named for the genus ''Sturnus'', which in turn comes from the Latin word for starling, ''sturnus''. Many Asian species, particularly the larger ones, ...
s. These are essentially island species of
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
and
Oceania
Oceania (, , ) is a region, geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern Hemisphere, Eastern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of ...
, although some species' ranges extend to the
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula (Malay: ''Semenanjung Tanah Melayu'') is a peninsula in Mainland Southeast Asia. The landmass runs approximately north–south, and at its terminus, it is the southernmost point of the Asian continental mainland. The area ...
, southern
Vietnam
Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
and northeastern
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
. The typical adult ''Aplonis'' starling is fairly uniformly plumaged in black, brown or dark green, sometimes with a metallic gloss. The eye ring is often distinctively coloured. Immatures of several species have dark streaked pale underparts.
Several species have restricted ranges, and, like other island endemics, have become endangered or extinct as a result of habitat loss or introduced mammals such as rats.
The following is the list of ''Aplonis'' species in taxonomic order:
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Metallic starling
The metallic starling (''Aplonis metallica''), also known as the shining starling, is a bird in the starling family native to the Moluccas, New Guinea, Queensland and the Solomon Islands.
Description
The adult has brilliant red eyes, a long for ...
, ''Aplonis metallica''
*
Yellow-eyed starling, ''Aplonis mystacea''
*
Singing starling, ''Aplonis cantoroides''
*
Tanimbar starling, ''Aplonis crassa''
*
Atoll starling, ''Aplonis feadensis''
*
Rennell starling
The Rennell starling (''Aplonis insularis'') is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands.
The plumage of the Rennell starling is blackish with a green-blue gloss. It has a yellow-ora ...
, ''Aplonis insularis''
*
Long-tailed starling
The long-tailed starling (''Aplonis magna'') is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to the Schouten Islands off West Papua, in Indonesia, an important area of bird endemism. The species was once treated as part of a su ...
, ''Aplonis magna''
*
White-eyed starling, ''Aplonis brunneicapillus''
*
Brown-winged starling, ''Aplonis grandis''
*
Makira starling, ''Aplonis dichroa''
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Rusty-winged starling, ''Aplonis zelandica''
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Striated starling
The striated starling (''Aplonis striata'') is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to New Caledonia
)
, anthem = ""
, image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg
, map ...
, ''Aplonis striata''
*
Tasman starling
The Tasman starling (''Aplonis fusca'') was described in 1836 by John Gould as a species which occurred on both Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. In 1928 Australian ornithologist Gregory Macalister Mathews, Gregory Mathews recognized that the ...
, ''Aplonis fusca'' (extinct c.1923)
**
Norfolk starling, ''Aplonis fusca fusca'' (extinct c.1923)
**
Lord Howe starling
The Tasman starling (''Aplonis fusca'') was described in 1836 by John Gould as a species which occurred on both Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. In 1928 Australian ornithologist Gregory Mathews recognized that the plumage of the race from Lor ...
, ''Aplonis fusca hulliana'' (extinct c.1919)
*
Mountain starling, ''Aplonis santovestris''
*
Asian glossy starling
The Asian glossy starling (''Aplonis panayensis'') is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan (introduced) and Thailand. Its natura ...
, ''Aplonis panayensis''
*
Moluccan starling, ''Aplonis mysolensis''
*
Short-tailed starling, ''Aplonis minor''
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Micronesian starling
The Micronesian starling (''Aplonis opaca'') is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Micronesia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tro ...
, ''Aplonis opaca''
*
Pohnpei starling, ''Aplonis pelzelni'' (possibly
extinct
Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
, c.2000)
*
Polynesian starling
The Polynesian starling (''Aplonis tabuensis'') is a species of starling of the family Sturnidae. It is found in the Samoan Islands, Fiji, Niue, Tonga, the Santa Cruz Islands and Wallis and Futuna. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropica ...
, ''Aplonis tabuensis''
*
Samoan starling
The Samoan starling (''Aplonis atrifusca'') is a large starling of the family Sturnidae. It is found in the Samoan Islands. The species has a dark brown, glossy appearance, with a long bill. Its natural habitat is tropical moist forest on volcan ...
, ''Aplonis atrifusca''
*
Kosrae starling
The Kosrae starling, also known as Kosrae Island starling, and formerly as Kusaie Mountain starling, (''Aplonis corvina'') is an extinct bird from the family of starlings (Sturnidae). It was endemic to the montane forests on the island of Kosrae ...
, ''Aplonis corvina'' (
extinct
Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
, mid-19th century)
*
Mauke starling, ''Aplonis mavornata'' (
extinct
Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
, mid-19th century)
*
Rarotonga starling, ''Aplonis cinerascens''
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Huahine starling
The Huahine starling (''Aplonis diluvialis'') is an extinct bird from the genus ''Aplonis'' within the starling family, Sturnidae. It was endemic to the island of Huahine, in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, and therefore had the easternm ...
, ''Aplonis diluvialis'' (
prehistoric
Prehistory, also known as pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the use of the first stone tools by hominins 3.3 million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use of ...
)
References
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q613598
Bird genera