The Norfolk Starling (Aplonis fusca, formerly Aplonis fuscus) was described in 1836 by John Gould as Tasman Starling which occurred on Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. However, Australian ornithologist Gregory Macalister Mathews recognized in 1928 that the plumage of the race from Lord Howe Island was much browner and more greyish than the plumage of the Norfolk Island race and so he splitted Aplonis fuscus into the nominate race Aplonis fusca fusca (Norfolk Starling) and the subspecies Aplonis fusca hulliana (Lord Howe Starling). The islanders of Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island named them redeyes or after its call „cúdgimarúk“. Both races are now extinct. The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_none_EX.svg‎ Graphic diagram for the IUCN Red List categories. ... The Dodo, shown here in illustration, is an often-cited[1] example of modern extinction. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Animalia redirects here. ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... “Aves” redirects here. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... Genera Aplonis Mino Basilornis Sarcops Streptocitta Enodes Scissirostrum Sarroglossa Ampeliceps Gracula Acridotheres Leucopsar Sturnia Sturnus Creatophora Fregilupus (extinct) Necropsar (extinct) Coccycolius Lamprotornis Cinnyricinclus Spreo Cosmoparus Onychognathus Poeoptera Grafisia Speculipastor Neochicla Buphagus See also: Myna, Oxpecker Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. ... Species see text Aplonis is a genus of starlings. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... John Gould John Gould (14 September 1804 – 3 February 1881) was an English ornithologist. ... In scientific nomenclature, synonyms are different scientific names used for a single taxon. ... John Gould John Gould (14 September 1804 – 3 February 1881) was an English ornithologist. ... Gregory Macalister Mathews (September 10, 1876 - March 27, 1949) was an Australian ornithologist. ... For the island off Solomon Islands, see Ontong Java Atoll Lord Howe Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean 600 km (373 mi) east of the Australian mainland. ... Trinomial name Aplonis fuscus hullianus (Mathews, 1928) Synonyms Aplonis hulliana Aplonis fusca hulliana The Lord Howe Starling (Aplonis fuscus hullianus) is an extinct race of the Norfolk Starling (Aplonis fusca). ...

It had reached a size of 20 cm. The wing length was 9.8 cm to 10.3 cm, the length of the tail was 6.3 to 6.8 cm, the length of the culmen 1.3 cm and tarsus was 2.5 cm. It was generally greyish brown. The males were glossy metallic green from head to the throat. The back, the rump, the uppertail coverts, the wing coverts, and underparts were grey, but undertail coverts were whitish. The bill was black and the eyes orange red. The females were coloured similar but the greenish gloss were slightly duller and a grey throat contrasted with pale brownish flanks. The under breast was washed ochraceous. The abdomen and the undertail coverts were yellowish white.

The reasons for its extinction are unclear. Competition from introduced European starlings, song thrushs and common blackbirds, overhunting and habitat loss through agricultural clearing might have played an important role. Reports in older literature that it became extinct by rats as its relative from Lord Howe Island are not correct because rats became first a pest on Norfolk Island by 1940. It became extinct in 1923.

References

• Errol Fuller (2000). "Extinct Birds", ISBN 0-8160-1833-2

External links

• Birdlife factsheet - Aplonis fusca