Socotra starling
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Onychognathus
Species:
O. frater
Binomial name
Onychognathus frater

The Socotra starling (Onychognathus frater) is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to Socotra island,[2] which is off the southeast coast of Yemen.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and rural gardens.

The Socotra starling builds its nests in the hollow branches of Socotra's dragon blood tree[3] (Dracaena cinnabari). In addition to feeding on grasshoppers and figs,[2] the bird also eats the berries of the dragon blood tree and helps disperse the tree's seeds.[4]

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2017). "Onychognathus frater". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22710619A111063411. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22710619A111063411.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Ripley, S. Dillon; Bond, Gorman M. (1966). "The birds of Socotra and Abd-el-Kuri". Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. 151 (7). ISSN 0096-8749.
  3. ↑ Porter, R. F.; Suleiman, A. S. (2016). "The important bird and biodiversity areas of the socotra archipelago, Yemen". Sandgrouse. 38: 169–191.
  4. ↑ Adolt, Radim; Pavlis, Jindrich (1 January 2004). "Age structure and growth of Dracaena cinnabari populations on Socotra". Trees. 18 (1): 43–53. doi:10.1007/s00468-003-0279-6. ISSN 1432-2285. S2CID 11360224.
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