This starling to the right of center, looking at camera showing vivid green and purple feathers. The emerald starling Lamprotornis iris is also known as the iris glossy starling. It is a small starling with a metallic green crown, upper body, wings and tail. The ear-coverts and underparts are metallic purple. Both sexes are similar. Most taxonomists unite it with many other glossy-starlings in Lamprotornis, while others place it in a monotypic genus Coccycolius. One of the smallest species among starlings, the emerald starling is distributed in West Africa. It inhabits lowlands and savanna of Côte d`Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The emerald starling feeds on figs, Haronga berries and other fruit, seeds, ants and other small insects.
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