The white-headed starling (Sturnia erythropygia), also known as the Andaman white-headed starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in wooded habitats of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
| White-headed starling | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Sturnidae |
| Genus: | Sturnia |
| Species: | S. erythropygia
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| Binomial name | |
| Sturnia erythropygia Blyth, 1846
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| Synonyms | |
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Sturnus erythropygius | |
Taxonomy edit
The white-headed starling was formerly placed in the genus Sturnus. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2008 found that the genus was polyphyletic.[2] In the reoganization to create monotypic genera, the white-headed starling was one of five starlings moved to the resurrected genus Sturnia that had been introduced in 1837 by René Lesson.[3]
Three subspecies are recognised:[3]
- S. e. andamanensis (Beavan, 1867) – Andaman Islands
- S. e. erythropygia Blyth, 1846 – north Nicobar Islands
- S. e. katchalensis Richmond, 1902 – central Nicobar Islands
References edit
- ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Sturnia erythropygia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22710861A132090637. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22710861A132090637.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ 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 (5): 469–481. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2008.00339.x.
- ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2023). "Nuthatches, Wallcreeper, treecreepers, mockingbirds, starlings, oxpeckers". IOC World Bird List Version 13.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
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