Onychognathus

Onychognathus is a genus of starlings, most of which are found in Africa.

All the species are quite similar, and characterised by rufous primary wing feathers, very obvious in flight. The males are typically mainly glossy black, and the females have dull (sometimes dark, depending on species) grey heads.

The genus was introduced by the German physician and ornithologist Gustav Hartlaub in 1849 with the chestnut-winged starling as the type species. The name Onychognathus combines the Ancient Greek words onukhos "claw" or "nail" and gnathos "jaw".

The genus contains 11 species.


 * Red-winged starling, Onychognathus morio
 * Slender-billed starling, Onychognathus tenuirostris
 * Chestnut-winged starling, Onychognathus fulgidus
 * Waller's starling, Onychognathus walleri
 * Somali starling, Onychognathus blythii
 * Socotra starling, Onychognathus frater
 * Tristram's starling, Onychognathus tristramii
 * Pale-winged starling, Onychognathus nabouroup
 * Bristle-crowned starling, Onychognathus salvadorii
 * White-billed starling, Onychognathus albirostris
 * Neumann's starling, Onychognathus neumanni