''Poeoptera'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...

in the

starling Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine (perching) birds known for the often dark, glossy iridescent sheen of their plumage; their complex vocalizations including mimicking; and their distinctive, often elaborate swarming behavior, know ...

family. It contains three

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

, all live in forest habitats in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

. These starlings

nest A nest is a structure built for certain animals to hold Egg (biology), eggs or young. Although nests are most closely associated with birds, members of all classes of vertebrates and some invertebrates construct nests. They may be composed of ...

in tree cavities, such as old

woodpecker Woodpeckers are part of the bird family (biology), family Picidae, which also includes the piculets, wrynecks and sapsuckers. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Madagascar and the extreme ...

or barbet holes. One species, the narrow-tailed starling, nests in

colonies A colony is a territory subject to a form of foreign rule, which rules the territory and its indigenous peoples separated from the foreign rulers, the colonizer, and their '' metropole'' (or "mother country"). This separated rule was often or ...

. All are birds of the

canopy Canopy may refer to: Plants * Canopy (biology), aboveground portion of plant community or crop (including forests) * Canopy (grape), aboveground portion of grapes Religion and ceremonies * Baldachin or canopy of state, typically placed over an a ...

, and their diet is mostly or entirely fruit. Males have a glossier appearance than females.

Species

Kenrick's starling Kenrick's starling (''Poeoptera kenricki'') is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. Taxonomy Kenrick's starling was described by George Ernest Shelley in 1894 and was named after Major Reginald Wat ...

(''Poeoptera kenricki'') *

Narrow-tailed starling The narrow-tailed starling (''Poeoptera lugubris'') is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in West and Central Africa from Sierra Leone to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Description The male is dark blue and the ...

(''Poeoptera lugubris'') *

Stuhlmann's starling Stuhlmann's starling (''Poeoptera stuhlmanni'') is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is native to the Albertine rift montane forests, the East African montane forests The East African montane forests is a montane tropical moist ...

(''Poeoptera stuhlmanni'')

References

* Bird genera Sturnidae Birds of Sub-Saharan Africa Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Sturnidae-stub