lies reblogged
musevault
violet-backed starling. photo by malcssclam.
Is this real, lies?
According to Wikipedia, yeah:
The Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster), also known as the Plum-coloured Starling or Amethyst Starling, is a relatively small species of starling in the Sturnidae family. This strongly sexually dimorphic species is found widely in the woodlands and savannah forest edges of mainland sub-Saharan Africa. It is rarely seen on the ground.
I've never seen one, but they certainly look gorgeous. Gotta love that sexual selection bias driving male birds (typically) toward more and more outlandish awesomeness.
Hey, ladies. Check me out. My extravagant ridiculousness is proof of my reproductive fitness.
