Fun Coleto Facts For Kids

Anusuya Mukherjee
Oct 20, 2022 By Anusuya Mukherjee
Originally Published on Sep 03, 2021
Edited by Monisha Kochhar
Fact-checked by Pradhanya Rao
To learn more about this bird, read these coleto facts.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 5.4 Min

The coleto, scientifically known as Sarcops calvus, is known to belong to the Sturnidae family. It is known to be endemic to the Philippines region and is considered to be a non-migratory bird. The types of habitat that this bird inhabits include tropical or subtropical moist lowland forests, tropical and subtropical dry forests, tropical and subtropical moist montane forests.

These birds are known to live in groups and pairs generally but can be spotted individually occasionally. Not a lot of information is available about the reproduction of this bird but the incubation takes place for about 13-14 days and the clutch size is known to be around two to three eggs.

This bird is dull gray on the backside of the neck, rump, and sides, the head is known to have bare pink-colored skin. The underparts and the wings are black in color.

The bill is also black in color and the legs are dark brown of this bird. The diet of this bird is omnivorous and the food consists of fruits, insects, and flower nectar. This bird is placed under the Least Concern category of conservation status.

Three subspecies of this bird have been recognized, namely Sarcops calvus calvus, Sarcops calvus melanonotus, Sarcops calvus lowlii. This bird tends to possess the ability to imitate human sounds and speech. This bird name is also the same as that of the Battle of Coleto Creek and the Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

It is quite fascinating to learn about this bird and if you are interested, read about the golden oriole and hornbill, too.

Coleto Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a coleto?

The coleto is a type of bird.

What class of animal does a coleto belong to?

It is placed under the class of Aves of birds.

How many coletos are there in the world?

There is no exact count of the global population of the coleto bird.

Where does a coleto live?

The coleto bird is known to be endemic to the Philippines.

What is a coleto's habitat?

The habitat of the coleto bird consists of tropical or subtropical moist lowland forests, tropical and subtropical dry forests, tropical and subtropical moist montane forests. This bird can often be spotted on exposed and open snags.

Who do coletos live with?

These birds tend to live in small groups and pairs and also can be spotted alone occasionally.

How long does a coleto live?

The coleto's lifespan is around five years.

How do they reproduce?

Not a lot of information is available about the nesting pattern and reproduction of this bird but it is known that the incubation lasts for about 13-14 days and the clutch size of the coleto is around two to three eggs.

What is their conservation status?

These birds are placed under the Least Concern category of conservation status.

Coleto Fun Facts

What does a coleto look like?

This bird is known to dull gray on the rump, sides, and back of the neck. The wings and underparts of this bird are black in color.

The head of this bird has pink bare skin. The bill is black-colored and the legs of this bird are dark brown in color. To spot this bird, look for the bare pink skin on the head with a grayish-blackish plumage.

The plumage of this bird is one of its identifying features.

How cute are they?

These birds are considered cute because of their beautiful colors.

How do they communicate?

Communication of the coleto birds takes place just like other birds through producing various sounds and calls. These birds are known to possess the ability to imitate human speech and sounds.

How big is a coleto?

The length of this coleto bird is around 10.6 in (27 cm).

How fast can a coleto fly?

The exact flying speed of these coleto birds is not known.

How much does a coleto weigh?

The weight of this coleto bird is around 6 oz (170 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Males and females of this species do not have any specific names.

What would you call a baby coleto?

Baby birds in general, are known as chicks, juveniles, or young ones.

What do they eat?

The diet of this bird is omnivorous and the food of coleto consists of fruits, insects, and flower nectar.

Are they dangerous?

These birds are not considered dangerous.

Would they make a good pet?

While not a lot of information is available about these birds as pets, they are kept as pets and are known to make manageable pets.

Please adhere to local laws and regulations about keeping any animal as a pet.

Did you know...

It is a starling species. Other members of the starling family include the violet-backed starling, metallic starling, European starling, and myna.

This bird is also referred to as a lad starling or a bald starling.

The common name for the bird in Central Visayas is sal-ling.

A French zoologist named Mathurin Jacques Brisson had included the description of a coleto in 1760 and its French name was given as le merle chauve des Philippines and its Latin name as Merula calva philippensis.

Carl Linnaeus is known to give the binomial name Gracula calva and the specific name 'calva' is derived from the Latin word 'calvus' meaning 'bald' or 'without hair'.

The genus Sarcops has been introduced by Arthur Walden, an English ornithologist in 1875 and it has been derived from Ancient Greek words 'sarx', 'sarcos' meaning 'flesh' and 'ops', 'opos' meaning 'complexion' or 'face'.

Three subspecies of this bird are known to have been recognized namely, Sarcops calvus calvus, Sarcops calvus melanonotus, Sarcops calvus lowlii that are found in North Philippines, Central and South Philippines, and Sulu Archipelago (southwest Philippines), respectively.

Initially in certain areas, these birds were hunted for meat.

It is believed that the area surrounding the eye of the bird gets redder when the bird gets excited.

The coleto is also famous because of the Battle of Coleto Creek. This is also referred to as the Goliad massacre.

The Battle of Coleto Creek also known as the Battle of Coleto was fought in March 1836 during a campaign named as Goliath Campaign at the time of the Texas revolution. The Texas revolution was known to be a revolution of colonists from Tejanos and the United States.

Coleto Creek is a stream that is 25 mi (40 km) long in Texas.

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the Mexican president led larger troops in the interior of Texas and his troops won the Battle of Alamo on 6 March. Prisoners of war were captured by these Texian troops. The Battle of San Jacinto was also a part of this particular battle history.

How many eggs do coletos lay?

Around two to three eggs are laid by these birds.

Do coletos migrate?

The coleto is not known to migrate.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our pigeon guillemot facts and burrowing owl facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable four calling birds coloring pages.

 

Second image by Václav Šilha.

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Written by Anusuya Mukherjee

Bachelor of Arts and Law specializing in Political Science and Intellectual Property Rights

Anusuya Mukherjee picture

Anusuya MukherjeeBachelor of Arts and Law specializing in Political Science and Intellectual Property Rights

With a wealth of international experience spanning Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East, Anusuya brings a unique perspective to her work as a Content Assistant and Content Updating Coordinator. She holds a law degree from India and has practiced law in India and Kuwait. Anusuya is a fan of rap music and enjoys a good cup of coffee in her free time. Currently, she is working on her novel, "Mr. Ivory Merchant".

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Fact-checked by Pradhanya Rao

Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and HR

Pradhanya Rao picture

Pradhanya RaoBachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and HR

With a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Christ University, Bangalore, Pradhanya's passion for the English language and literature led her to explore the field of content writing, where she has gained extensive experience in writing, reviewing, editing, and fact-checking. She has also earned certifications in Google Ads Search, Google Ads Display, and Social Media Marketing, showcasing her proficiency in digital marketing.

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