About the Reunion Starling
The hoopoe starling, also known as the Réunion starling or the Bourbon crested starling, is a species of starling that lived on the Mascarene island of Réunion and became extinct in the 1850s. Its closest relatives were the also-extinct 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. Some affinities have been proposed, but it was confirmed as a starling in a DNA study.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Starlings (Sturnidae) |
| Species | Fregilupus varius |
| Species Codes | reusta1, HOST, REST |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Reunion Starling belong to?
The Reunion Starling (Fregilupus varius) belongs to the Starlings family (Sturnidae), in the order Passeriformes.
How can I identify the Reunion Starling?
The hoopoe starling, also known as the Réunion starling or the Bourbon crested starling, is a species of starling that lived on the Mascarene island of Réunion and became extinct in the 1850s. Its closest relatives were the also-extinct Rodrigues starling and the Mauritius starling from nearby islan...
Where can I report a Reunion Starling sighting?
You can log sightings of Reunion Starling on eBird (ebird.org) using species code reusta1, or on iNaturalist.