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GrasslandCavity nestMedium · 86 g
ID tip
The Cape starling has an adult length of about 25 cm (10 in) and weight of about 100 grams (3.5 oz). The plumage of an adult bird is a fairly uniform bright, glossy colour. The head is blue with darker ear coverts and the upper parts of the body are greenish-blue. It has a lengthy warbling song which may include an imitation of sounds it hears in its environment.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Cape Starling
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Cape Starling
The map shades 10 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Spain.
About the Cape Starling
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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Pied StarlingLamprotornis bicolorThe adult of this 27–28 cm (11 in) long starling has mainly dully glossed black plumage except for a white lower belly and undertail.
Greater Blue-eared StarlingLamprotornis chalybaeusThe greater blue-eared starling is a 22 cm long, short tailed bird.
Burchell's StarlingLamprotornis australisBurchell's starling or Burchell's glossy-starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae.
Side by side: Cape Starling vs Pied Starling · Cape Starling vs Greater Blue-eared Starling
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