Meves's Starling (Lamprotornis mevesii) [XC878286]
by Marc Anderson from Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana (call)
Meves's Starling (Lamprotornis mevesii) [XC878289]
by Marc Anderson from Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana (call)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Long-tailed Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis caudatus) and Ruppell's Starling (Lamprotornis purpuroptera). Distinctive subspecies benguelensis possibly represents a separate species, differing from others in plumage and habitat. Further study is required.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
benguelensis Shelley, 1906 - South-western Angola (Benguela south to Namibe). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Benguela Long-tailed Starling (Lamprotornis benguelensis).
violacior Clancey, 1973 - South-western Angola (central and southern Huíla south to Cunene and western Cuando Cubango) and north-western Namibia. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Cunene Long-tailed Starling (Lamprotornis violacior).
mevesii (Wahlberg, 1856) - Extreme south-eastern Angola, extreme north-eastern Namibia, northern Botswana, southern and eastern Zambia, southern Malawi (R Shire), Zimbabwe (except highlands), western and south-western Mozambique and extreme northern South Africa (northern Limpopo Province).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet