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Grosbeak starling

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Grosbeak starling
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Scissirostrum
Lafresnaye, 1845
Species:
S. dubium
Binomial name
Scissirostrum dubium
(Latham, 1801)
Synonyms

Lanius dubium Latham, 1801

The grosbeak starling (Scissirostrum dubium), also known as the grosbeak myna, finch-billed myna, or scissor-billed starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is monotypic in the genus Scissirostrum.[2] It is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia.[1]

Its natural habitat is tropical lowland, and sometimes subtropical montane, lightly wooded forest areas and wetlands.[1]

This species nests in colonies, which frequently contain hundreds of pairs. Its nests are bored in rotting or dying tree trunks in woodpecker style. It eats fruit, insects, and grain.[2] Grosbeak starlings are highly vocal, at their colonies and in feeding flocks.[2]

The grosbeak starling was first described by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801 under the binomial name Lanius dubium.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c BirdLife International (2018). "Scissirostrum dubium". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22711001A132091764. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22711001A132091764.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Feare, C., Craig, A., Croucher, B., Shields, C., & Komolphalin, K. 1998. Starlings and Mynas. Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-3961-X
  3. ^ Latham, John (1801). Supplementum indicis ornithologici sive systematis ornithologiae (in Latin). London: Leigh & Sotheby. p. xviii.