Rüppell's Starling Lamprotornis purpuroptera Scientific name definitions

35 cm; 78–92 g. Large glossy starling with long, graduated tail . Nominate race has crown, chin and side of head blue-green with bronzy sheen, nape blue with purple sheen, mantle and back blue, rump purple; wing blue-green, dark barring on coverts, tertials and outer webs of primaries; tail ­purple with distinct bars; throat and breast blue-green; belly, flanks, thighs and under­tail-coverts purple, bronzy sheen in centre of belly; some individuals have plumage predominantly purple with bronzy sheen; iris creamy white; bill and legs black. Sexes alike in plumage, but differ in mouth colour: dark in males, pale pinkish in females. Juvenile is matt black, with some gloss on crown, mantle and wings, iris dark brown. Race aeneocephalus is much larger than nominate, with longer and more graduated tail, and with mantle, back and upper breast more violet, wings more blue (less greenish).

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Described as almost omnivorous; collects food scraps at camp sites. On Laikipia Plateau, Kenya, ate fruit of Euclea divinorum, Ficus, Strychnos henningii and flowers of Apodytes dimidiata; insect food included termites (Isoptera). Forages predominantly on ground , where it hops and runs. In pairs and in small groups.

Song a long warbling, relatively musical series consisting of both sweet notes and harsh ones, with some mimicry, each strophe containing 4–10 elements "pa-wee pweet pweet tcheeeoh"; duetting by partners common, male starting and female following. Often extended periods of song during heat of day. Various call notes reported, e.g. "swi-chew" and "kwerr". Also audible wing sounds during interactions with other birds.