This is the only confirmed photograph of both sexes of the endemic species I got during my visit, as this is a couple (both sexes look the same, opposed to the Somali starling (Onychognathus blythii) where the female has a grey upper body), and I heard their mellow one-note vocalization, which resembles that of the […]
A Socotra starling landing in the canopy of a dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari) where large amounts of fruits await. Firhmin Forest is a forest of dragon blood trees, and within it a reliable source of fruits. From the ground it’s hard to see any fruits in the canopy, but from a bird’s perspective there […]
A Socotra starling enjoying a mouthful of dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari) fruit. Firhmin Forest is a forest of dragon blood trees, and within it a reliable source of fruits. From the ground it’s hard to see any fruits in the canopy, but from a bird’s perspective there are several clusters of fruits. Just in […]
This is the male Somali starling – all-black opposed to the female. He’s observing me from the branches of the endemic dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari) that provides ample food during fruiting season, which is now coming to and end. The fruit is toxic to goats and I suppose many other species that have not […]
There are two species of starling found on Socotra, but only the Socotra starling (Onychognathus frater) is endemic. This is a female Somali starling, which differs greatly from the Socotra starling where both sexes are all black.
This female Somali starling is in the middle of a morning preening and beauty session on the beautiful Shuab beach of Socotra. Ruffling the feathers and looking around for either her companion or prospects is an important part of the morning ritual – perhaps like we do when looking in a mirror, except its mirror […]
Around the cave by the beautiful Detwah lagoon I found a large group of Somali starlings. They were congregating on the rock face around the opening and they were flying in and out of the area constantly, but I found no nests. This is the female Somali starling, but the all-black male resembles the endemic […]
Around the cave by the beautiful Detwah lagoon I found a large group of Somali starlings. They were congregating on the rock face around the opening and they were flying in and out of the area constantly, but I found no nests. This is the male Somali starling, and it resembles the endemic Socotra starling […]
Around the cave by the beautiful Detwah lagoon I found a large group of Somali starlings. They were congregating on the rock face and they were flying in and out of the area constantly, but I found no nests. This is the female Somali starling, but the all-black male resembles the endemic Socotra starling (both […]
Around the cave by the beautiful Detwah lagoon I found a large group of Somali starlings. They were congregating on the rock face around the opening and they were flying in and out of the area constantly, but I found no nests. 4 pairs are seen here and the female is clearly different than the […]