The emerald starling 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.
Region
West Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs in the Upper Guinea region of West Africa, including southern Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and western Côte d’Ivoire. It favors lowland forest edges, gallery forests, secondary growth, and wooded farmlands and plantations (such as cocoa and oil palm). The species often uses canopy and subcanopy strata but will descend to fruiting shrubs and cultivated trees. It tolerates moderate habitat disturbance but is less frequent in heavily degraded open country.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Also called the iris glossy starling, this small West African starling dazzles with intense emerald-green upperparts and rich metallic purple face and underparts. It forages in the canopy and at forest edges, often in small groups, taking insects and fruit. Some authorities place it in Lamprotornis (as Lamprotornis iris), but many keep it in the monotypic genus Coccycolius. It adapts to lightly disturbed habitats and plantations, though intact forest edges remain important.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small groups, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks at fruiting trees. Nests in cavities such as tree holes or palm crowns, lining them with plant material. Both sexes participate in nest duties, and juveniles are duller with less intense gloss.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A varied series of thin whistles, metallic chirrups, and chattering notes. Calls carry well through the canopy and are given during foraging and at roosts.
