Cape Starling
Lamprotornis nitens
Aves › Passeriformes › Sturnidae › Lamprotornis
Conservation status: least_concern
The Cape starling, also known as red-shouldered glossy-starling or Cape glossy starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Southern Africa, where it lives in woodlands, bushveld and in suburbs.
How To Identify
This medium-sized passerine features soft, slate-grey plumage across its body, which is contrasted by warmer brown streaks on the breast and wings. It is characterized by flashes of iridescent purple or green visible in the sunlight when preening or flying.
Habitat
It inhabits open and semi-open woodlands, savannas, grasslands, and cultivated areas across southern Africa, preferring areas with scattered trees and shrubs.
Behaviour
Cape Starlings are gregarious foragers that probe the ground for insects and also glean food from trees, often seen in noisy, active flocks that communicate with complex chirps and murmurs.
Native Range
The Cape starling is found in Southern Africa, encompassing the extreme south of Gabon, the west and south of Angola, the extreme south of Zambia, throughout Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, and South Africa.
Did You Know?
Cape Starlings are highly social birds that roost together in massive flocks of hundreds or thousands, creating spectacular aerial displays as they swirl and murmur in unison at dusk. Their iridescent plumage shifts from green to blue to purple depending on the angle of light.
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