Aplonis mystacea
The Yellow-eyed Starling (Aplonis mystacea) is a striking passerine bird endemic to the island of New Guinea, instantly recognizable by its vivid, almost luminous, yellow eyes set against an otherwise sleek, dark plumage. Measuring approximately 17-18 cm (6.7-7.1 inches) in length and weighing around 40 grams (1.4 oz), its body is covered in glossy, iridescent black or purplish-black feathers that shimmer in the light, typical of the Sturnidae family. These brilliant yellow irises serve as it...
Found primarily in tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, often frequenting forest edges, clearings, and disturbed areas, typically up to an elevation of 1200 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a variety of small wild fruits and berries; supplements its diet with insects (e.g., beetles, ants, termites) and occasionally nectar, particularly during breeding season.
The Yellow-eyed Starling is a diurnal species, observed foraging actively throughout the day, often high in the forest canopy. While specific roosting habits are not extensively documented, it is known to occur singly, in pairs, or in small, cohesive family groups, sometimes joining mixed-species...
The Yellow-eyed Starling is an endemic species to the island of New Guinea, with its distribution spanning both the Indonesian provinces of West Papua and Papua, and the independent nation of Papua New Guinea. Within this range, it is primarily found in the lowlands and lower montane regions, typ...
Least Concern
- The Yellow-eyed Starling is endemic to New Guinea, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world. - Its bright yellow eyes are one of the most striking and distinctive features among all starling species globally. - Despite its relatively small size (around 17-18 cm), it possesses the robust, g...