Tristram's Starling

Overview

Tristram's starling (Onychognathus tristramii), also known as the Dead Sea starling, is a species of starling native to the Middle East. It is the only member of the genus Onychognathus found mainly outside of Africa and is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• 25 cm long with a wingspan of 44–45 cm and a weight of 100–140 g.
• Males possess glossy iridescent black plumage with orange patches on the outer wing, particularly noticeable in flight, while females and juveniles are duller with a greyish head.
• The bill and legs are black.
• The call resembles a wolf whistle.

Habitat

Found in deserts across Israel, Palestine, Jordan, northeastern Egypt (Sinai Peninsula), western Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman, the species nests mainly on rocky cliff faces. It is becoming increasingly commensal with humans, feeding in towns and villages, which has enabled a recent northward spread in its distribution.

Diet

This omnivorous bird feeds on fruit and invertebrates, such as beetles, flies, butterflies, bees, and small snails. It has been observed grooming Nubian ibex and domestic livestock for parasites and often forages for scraps in human settlements.

Did you know?

Despite being well adapted to a desert environment by losing relatively little water to evaporation, its dark plumage may help it survive the desert winter when temperatures are low but the Sun's radiation is strong.