Violet-backed starling
Sexual dimorphism never fails to amaze me. Who would have thought that this rather thrush like bird would in fact be the female version of the astoundingly coloured violet-backed starling.
Whilst these birds do occur in South Africa, alas not in these parts and so this was photographed in captivity.
The violet-backed starling is a relatively small species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is the only member of the genus ''Cinnyricinclus''. This strongly sexually dimorphic species is found widely in the woodlands and savannah forest edges of mainland sub-Saharan Africa. It is rarely seen on the ground, but instead found in trees and other locations away from the ground.
Similar species: Passerines
By Claire Hamilton
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Uploaded Jan 31, 2016. Captured Jan 29, 2016 12:21.
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