Hoopoe starling
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| phylum | Chordata | The hoopoe starling, also known as the Réunion starling or Bourbon crested starling (Fregilupus varius), is a species of starling which lived on the Mascarene island of Réunion, and became extinct in the 1850s. Its closest relatives were the Rodrigues starling and the Mauritius starling from nearby islands, and the three apparently originated in Southeast Asia. The bird was first mentioned during the 17th century and was long thought to be related to the hoopoe, from which its name is derived. Although a number of affinities have been proposed, it was confirmed as a starling in a DNA study.
The hoopoe starling was 30 cm (12 in) in length. Its plumage was primarily white and grey, with its back, wings and tail a darker brown and grey. It had a light, mobile crest, which curled forwards. The bird is thought to have been sexually dimorphic, with males larger and having more curved beaks. For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Starling |
| clade | Diapsida | |
| Class | Aves | |
| order | Passeriformes | |
| family | Sturnidae | |
| genus | Fregilupus | |
| species | F. varius |
