Acridotheres melanopterus melanopterus

(Daudin, 1800)

Vernacular names
English : Black-winged starling
French : Martin à ailes noires

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Passeriformes
Family : Sturnidae
Notes : 2 other subspecies known.

Identification
The species can grow to 23 cm in length. Dull yellow leg, yellow bill with blue base. Large yellow wattle around and behind eyes. Plumage mostly white, occasionally very light grey on belly. Subspecies with flight feathers and tail feathers deep black, white upper wings and back.

Range and habitat
The species is endemic to Indonesia and to the island of Java, now occurring mostly in the north-west protected areas of Pulau Dua and Muara Angke. Lives in monsoon forests, savannas, orchards, cultivated lands, to 1300 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : ENDANGERED
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is very close to extinction in the wild. It has been completely wiped out by overtrapping for cagebird trade and poisoning by pesticides.
Ex-Situ Programs : EEP in Europe

Observation
Jurong Bird Park (Singapore), Taman Safari Cisarua (Indonesia), Berlin Zoo (Germany)

 

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