Expert: Roger Lederer - 12/5/2011

Question
QUESTION: I don't know if you can help me or not with identifying these two species of birds: First off, I took pics at the Zoo in central park, NYC.(rainforest exhibit) problem is they don't have the birds identified on the site.
first bird:    wings: blue Body: black eyes: white/maybe yellow tail: Long and black   possibly a long-tailed glossy starling?

Second bird:    wings: blue  Head: faint purple  eyelid:red  Breast:brown  tail: long

Please help, and thanks for your time, Nick

ANSWER: I can't give you an id with these descriptions, as least not any that I'd be sure of. Can you send me the photos you took?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have to send the pics in sets... 1 of 3

Answer
Right you are. Long-tailed Glossy Starling.

From Wikipedia: The Long-tailed Glossy Starling, Lamprotornis caudatus, is a member of the starling family of birds. It is a resident breeder in tropical Africa from Senegal east to Sudan.
This common passerine is typically found in open woodland and cultivation. The Long-tailed Glossy Starling builds a nest in hole. The normal clutch is 2 to 4 eggs.
This ubiquitous bird is gregarious and noisy, with a harsh grating call.
The adults of these 54 cm long birds have metallic green upperparts, violet underparts and a 34 cm long purple tail. The face is black with a yellow eye. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller, with a brownish tone to the plumage.