18th century illustration of a violet-backed starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster), also known as the plum-coloured starling, or amethyst starling, a relatively small species (17cm) of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is the only member of the genus Cinnyricinclus. 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, but instead found in trees and other sources away from the ground. From Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique (Natural History of Birds of Africa), Volume 2, by Franeois Le Vaillant (1753-1824), published in Paris, France in 1799.