Onychognathus tristramii - Tristram's Starling
Feather characters. Barbules are rather short (0.70-0.87 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Bell-shaped nodes and occasionally diamond-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (30-32 per mm). They are all about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. The shape of the nodes are often irregular. Villi are rounded and internodes are occasionally kinked. Prongs are absent. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented nodes combined with rounded villi. Only the shape of nodes and internodes is different: nodes are diamond-shaped (and bell-shaped) with kinked internodes.
Field characters. Size 25 cm. Weight (98-140) (Cramp (chief ed.) 1994). Unmistakable long-tailed Starling-like bird. Male glossy back with orange primaries (tipped dark-brown); wing-panel obvious on folded wing, but especially conspicuous in flight. Female duller; head, neck and breast ash-grey with dark streaks; wing-panel duller. Juvenile like female, but head, neck and breast as dark as rest of body. Often in very vocal parties.
Voice. Highly characteristic call a loud series of fluty whistles 'dee-oo-ee-oo'.
Distribution. Locally common resident in Middle East; some dispersal outside breeding season. Range has recently expanded. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Rocky hills, ravines, canyons, riverbeds, or rocky edges of wadis; frequently visits cultivations to feed. Nests in holes and crevices; more recently also in towns and villages.
Food. Fruits, insects, snails; also takes ticks from pelt of cattle.