Aplonis

Aplonis is a genus of starlings. These are essentially island species of Indonesia, Oceania and Australasia, although some species’ ranges extend to the Malay Peninsula, southern Vietnam and northeastern Queensland. The typical adult Aplonis starling is fairly uniformly plumaged in black, brown or dark green, sometimes with a metallic gloss. The eye ring is often distinctively coloured. Immatures of several species have dark streaked pale underparts.

Several species have restricted ranges, and, like other island endemics, have become endangered or extinct as a result of habitat loss or introduced mammals such as rats.

The following is the list of Aplonis species in taxonomic order.:


 * White-eyed Starling, Aplonis brunneicapillus
 * Yellow-eyed Starling, Aplonis mystacea
 * Metallic Starling, Aplonis metallica
 * Long-tailed Starling, Aplonis magna
 * Pohnpei Starling, Aplonis pelzelni (possibly extinct, c.2000)
 * Kosrae Island Starling / Kosrae Starling, Aplonis corvina (extinct, mid-19th century)
 * Micronesian Starling, Aplonis opaca
 * Brown-winged Starling, Aplonis grandis
 * Makira Starling/San Cristobal Starling, Aplonis dichroa
 * Singing Starling, Aplonis cantoroides
 * Tanimbar Starling, Aplonis crassa
 * Asian Glossy Starling, Aplonis panayensis
 * Moluccan Starling, Aplonis mysolensis
 * Short-tailed Starling, Aplonis minor
 * Atoll Starling, Aplonis feadensis
 * Rennell Starling, Aplonis insularis
 * Rusty-winged Starling, Aplonis zelandica
 * Striated Starling, Aplonis striata
 * Mountain Starling, Aplonis santovestris
 * Polynesian Starling, Aplonis tabuensis
 * Samoan Starling, Aplonis atrifusca
 * Rarotonga Starling, Aplonis cinerascens
 * Mauke Starling / Mysterious Starling, Aplonis mavornata (extinct, mid-19th century)
 * Tasman Starling, Aplonis fusca (extinct c.1923)
 * Norfolk Starling, Aplonis fusca fusca (extinct c.1923)
 * Lord Howe Starling, Aplonis fusca hulliana (extinct c.1919)
 * Huahine Starling, Aplonis diluvialis (prehistoric)
 * Bay Starling, Aplonis ulietensis (extinct, 1774 to 1850; formerly considered a thrush)
 * Erromango Starling, Aplonis sp. undescr. (prehistoric)