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All-black songbird with decurved bill and long, cleft tail that curves up at the end.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyDrongos
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatClosed forest, Grassland, Open woodland, Sparse woodland, and Waterbodies
Best timeReported across most months in Queensland, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
2664visible hotspots
189421visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Adult has bright red eye, young birds dark-eyed. Plumage shows metallic iridescence in optimal light. Metallic Starling has finer bill, tapered tail. Inhabits great variety of habitats, where it chases insects mercilessly.
Behavior
Perches prominently, delivering harsh, squawking calls, often mimicking other species such as butcherbirds and kingfishers.
Gallery