Socotra starling
Species of bird
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Socotra starling (Onychognathus frater) is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is endemic to Socotra island,[2] which is off the southeast coast of Yemen.
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| Socotra starling | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Sturnidae |
| Genus: | Onychognathus |
| Species: | O. frater |
| Binomial name | |
| Onychognathus frater (PL Sclater & Hartlaub, 1881) | |
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and rural gardens.
The Socotra starling builds its nests in the hollow branches of Socotra's dragon blood tree[3] (Dracaena cinnabari). In addition to feeding on grasshoppers and figs,[2] the bird also eats the berries of the dragon blood tree and helps disperse the tree's seeds.[4]