Good happy Wednesday to you!
Did you have snow last year? I don’t recall because two things happen when you get older.
1. You start to forget things.
2. I don’t recall what the second one is...
Today’s special animal friend, in recognition of the Lenten season, is the Violet-Backed Starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster, also known as the plum-colored starling and the amethyst starling. This small (up to 7 inches) bird is common in the savannahs and forest edges of Sub-Saharan Africa. They are found across the continent, but higher densities occur toward the east, where the terrain is neither heavy rainforest nor desert. Common in lowlands, it has been found in Kenya at altitudes up to 6,900 feet.
The female violet-backed starling has medium-brown back feathers with white edging and a white chest barred with brown. She looks very tidy, like junior audit staff in a large bank. The male violet-backed starling has brilliantly purple, iridescent feathers on his head, back, and wings. The color ranges from deep violet through plum to mauve and can be quite dazzling. His underparts are white. In mating displays, the male hovers or stands near the female, singing while showing off his wings.
Violet-backed starlings live in small flocks. They eat fruit, seeds, and arthropods. In some habitats, they are the major vector of the mistletoe plant. In others, they snap insects out of the air like flycatchers. They usually remain in the forest canopy, seldom feeding on the ground. During insect swarming periods, flocks of starlings follow the swarms or termites or locusts.
They build their nests in tree cavities, holes in fence posts, and cavities in river banks, usually within a few yards of the ground. The nests are made of dung, rotted leaves, and other plant material. A pair may stay together and reuse the same nest for several seasons. The female lays two to four eggs, which are pale blue with reddish-brown spots, and incubates them for about two weeks. The male assists in feeding the chicks when they hatch.
Violet-backed starlings are a species of least concern for conservationists, due to their very broad range and adaptability to different habitats. However, their populations are declining in some areas; the level of conservation interest depends upon the country. They can be kept in captivity. Captive individuals are reported to have lived over 25 years, but the average is around 7 (which makes the 32 and 27 reports pretty dubious).
*tagline*
We had snow, but not so much. We’re considerably farther north this year than last.