Complete mitochondrial genome of the Red-billed Starling, Sturnus sericeus (Aves: Passeriformes): the first representative of the family Sturnidae with a single control region.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Sturnus sericeus is 16,823 bp in length, and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and a single control region. All genes were coden on the H-strand, with the exceptions of one PCG (nad6) and eight tRNA genes (tRNA(Gln), tRNA(Ala), tRNA(Asn), tRNA(Cys), tRNA(Tyr), tRNA(Ser(UCN)), tRNA(Pro) and tRNA(Glu)), as found in other vertebrates. All of PCGs are initiated with ATG, except for cox1, which is initiated with GTG, while stopped by five types of stop codons. All tRNA genes have the potential to fold into typical clover-leaf structure. Conserved sequences in three domains were observed in the single control region.