Greater Blue-eared Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1828

86 gWeight

The greater blue-eared starling or greater blue-eared glossy-starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus) is a bird that breeds from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south through eastern Africa to northeastern South Africa and Angola.

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia

Greater Blue-eared Starling has been recorded at 340 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 31 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Lake Nakuru NPKenya1,286 records
  2. Kruger NP – Skukuza CampSouth Africa1,013 records
  3. Kruger NP – Satara CampSouth Africa794 records
More places
  1. Kruger NP – Lower Sabie Rest CampSouth Africa614 records
  2. Lake Mburo NPUganda438 records
  3. Maasai Mara NR – Mara TriangleKenya435 records
  4. Kruger NP – Berg-en-Dal CampSouth Africa398 records
  5. Mpala Ranch and Research CentreKenya358 records
  6. Lewa Wildlife ConservancyKenya337 records
  7. Ol Pejeta ConservancyKenya307 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaKenyaEthiopiaBotswanaUgandaTanzaniaGambiaNamibia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The greater blue-eared starling or greater blue-eared glossy-starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus) is a bird that breeds from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south through eastern Africa to northeastern South Africa and Angola. It is a very common species of open woodland bird, and undertakes some seasonal migration.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Greater Blue-eared Starling?

The Greater Blue-eared Starling weighs around 86 g.

Where does the Greater Blue-eared Starling live?

Its breeding range: Africa: widespread. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia.

When is the best time to see the Greater Blue-eared Starling?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Greater Blue-eared Starling endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Greater Blue-eared Starling as Least Concern.

What does the Greater Blue-eared Starling eat?

Main food: Omnivore.

What family is the Greater Blue-eared Starling in?

It belongs to the family Starlings, Rhabdornises (Sturnidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Weight
86 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Omnivore
Lifestyle
Varied
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
138 mm
Tail
90 mm
Bill
25 mm
Tarsus
32 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: widespread

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Starlings, Rhabdornises Sturnidae
Genus
Lamprotornis

Other birds in the genus Lamprotornis

Cape StarlingCape StarlingLamprotornis nitensLesser Blue-eared StarlingLesser Blue-eared StarlingLamprotornis chloropterusBronze-tailed StarlingBronze-tailed StarlingLamprotornis chalcurusSplendid StarlingSplendid StarlingLamprotornis splendidusPrincipe StarlingPrincipe StarlingLamprotornis ornatusEmerald StarlingEmerald StarlingLamprotornis irisPurple StarlingPurple StarlingLamprotornis purpureusRüppell's StarlingRüppell's StarlingLamprotornis purpuropteraLong-tailed Glossy StarlingLong-tailed Glossy StarlingLamprotornis caudatusGolden-breasted StarlingGolden-breasted StarlingLamprotornis regiusMeves's StarlingMeves's StarlingLamprotornis mevesiiBurchell's StarlingBurchell's StarlingLamprotornis australis
Greater Blue-eared Starling

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by matthewkwan. ↗

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