Long-tailed glossy starling

{{Short description|Species of bird}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Long-tailed glossy starling

| image = Lamprotornis_caudatus_-Dakar_-Senegal-2007.jpg

| image_caption = Parc Forestier de Hann, Senegal

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=Lamprotornis caudatus |volume=2016 |page=e.T22710744A94259013 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22710744A94259013.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}

| taxon = Lamprotornis caudatus

| authority = (Statius Muller, 1776)

}}

The long-tailed glossy starling (Lamprotornis caudatus) is a member of the starling family of birds. It is a resident breeder in tropical Africa from Senegal east to Sudan.

This common passerine is typically found in open woodland and cultivation. The long-tailed glossy starling builds a nest in a hole. The normal clutch is two to four eggs.

This ubiquitous bird is gregarious and noisy, with a harsh grating call.

The adults of these {{cvt|54|cm}} long birds have metallic green upperparts, violet underparts and a {{cvt|34|cm}} long purple tail. The face is black with a yellow eye. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller, with a brownish tone to the plumage.

Image:bigltgstarlingpicforWIKI.jpg

Like most starlings, the long-tailed glossy starling is an omnivore, eating fruit and insects.