The Daurian starling (Agropsar sturninus), or purple-backed starling, is a species of bird in the starling family found in the eastern Palearctic from eastern Mongolia and southeastern Russia to North Korea and central China.

Daurian starling
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Agropsar
Species:
A. sturninus
Binomial name
Agropsar sturninus
(Pallas, 1776)
Synonyms
  • Sturnia sturnina
  • Sturnus sturnina

Taxonomy and systematics

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The Daurian starling was previously placed in the genus Sturnus. It was moved to the resurrected genus Agropsar based on the results of two molecular phylogenetic studies that were published in 2008.[2][3][4]

Description

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The Daurian starling is distinguished from other starling species by its dark mantle and crown and narrow wing bars.[5]

Distribution and habitat

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The natural habitats of the Daurian starling are boreal forests and temperate forests.

References

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  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Agropsar sturninus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22710870A94264888. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22710870A94264888.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ Zuccon, D.; Pasquet, E.; Ericson, P.G.P. (2008). "Phylogenetic relationships among Palearctic-Oriental starlings and mynas (genera Sturnus and Acridotheres: Sturnidae)". Zoologica Scripta. 37: 469–481. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2008.00339.x.
  3. ^ Lovette, I.J.; McCleery, B.V.; Talaba, A.L.; Rubenstein, D.R. (2008). "A complete species-level molecular phylogeny for the 'Eurasian' starlings (Sturnidae:Sturnus, Acridotheres, and allies): Recent diversification in a highly social and dispersive avian group". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 47 (1): 251–260. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.01.020. PMID 18321732.
  4. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2018). "Nuthatches, Wallcreeper, treecreepers, mockingbirds, starlings, oxpeckers". World Bird List Version 8.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  5. ^ Strange, M. (2002) A photographic guide to birds of southeast Asia: Periplus Editions