Samoan Starling (Aplonis atrifusca)
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Samoan Starling

Aplonis atrifusca (Peale, 1849)

146 gWeight

The Samoan starling (Aplonis atrifusca) is a large starling of the family Sturnidae.

Busiest months: August · Most records: Samoa, American Samoa

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Samoan Starling has been recorded at 19 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Malolo'lelei Watershed ReserveSamoa97 records
  2. Dave Parker's Eco LodgeSamoa72 records
  3. Apia – Mt. Vaea & Robert Louis Stevenson MuseumSamoa58 records
More places
  1. ApiaSamoa40 records
  2. Pupu-Pue NP – Coastal WalkSamoa32 records
  3. Mount Alava Ridge Trail, National Park of American SamoaAmerican Samoa26 records
  4. Lower Sauma Ridge TrailheadAmerican Samoa17 records
  5. Ofu Beach National ParkAmerican Samoa16 records
  6. Upolu – Lake Lanoto'oSamoa16 records
  7. Aunu'u Island, American SamoaAmerican Samoa15 records

Countries and regions with the most records

SamoaAmerican Samoa

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The Samoan starling (Aplonis atrifusca) is a large starling of the family Sturnidae. It is found in the Samoan Islands. The species has a dark brown, glossy appearance, with a long bill.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Samoan Starling?

The Samoan Starling weighs around 146 g.

Where does the Samoan Starling live?

Its breeding range: Pacific Ocean: Savaii and Upolu (western Samoa) and Tutuila, Ofu, Olosega and Tau (American Samoa, central Polynesia). It is most often recorded in Samoa and American Samoa.

When is the best time to see the Samoan Starling?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in August (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Samoan Starling endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Samoan Starling as Least Concern.

What does the Samoan Starling eat?

Main food: Fruit.

What family is the Samoan Starling in?

It belongs to the family Starlings, Rhabdornises (Sturnidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Weight
146 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Fruit
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
145 mm
Tail
102 mm
Bill
35 mm
Tarsus
33 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Pacific Ocean: Savaii and Upolu (western Samoa) and Tutuila, Ofu, Olosega and Tau (American Samoa, central Polynesia)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Starlings, Rhabdornises Sturnidae
Genus
Aplonis

Other birds in the genus Aplonis

Metallic StarlingMetallic StarlingAplonis metallicaYellow-eyed StarlingYellow-eyed StarlingAplonis mystaceaSinging StarlingSinging StarlingAplonis cantoroidesTanimbar StarlingTanimbar StarlingAplonis crassaAtoll StarlingAtoll StarlingAplonis feadensisRennell StarlingRennell StarlingAplonis insularisLong-tailed StarlingLong-tailed StarlingAplonis magnaWhite-eyed StarlingWhite-eyed StarlingAplonis brunneicapillusBrown-winged StarlingBrown-winged StarlingAplonis grandisMakira StarlingMakira StarlingAplonis dichroaRusty-winged StarlingRusty-winged StarlingAplonis zelandicaStriated StarlingStriated StarlingAplonis striata
Samoan Starling

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