Greater Blue-eared Starling
Lamprotornis chalybaeus
The Greater Blue-eared Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus) is a uncommon rhabdornis, starlings, and myna found in 35 countries, weighing about 86 g. The greater blue-eared starling or greater blue-eared glossy-starling is a bird that breeds from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south through eastern Africa to northeastern South Africa and Angola.
About the Greater Blue-eared Starling
The greater blue-eared starling or greater blue-eared glossy-starling 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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The greater blue-eared starling is a 22 cm long, short tailed bird. This starling is glossy blue-green with a purple-blue belly and blue ear patch. Its iris is bright yellow or orange. The sexes are similar, but the juvenile is duller and has blackish brown underparts. The populations from southern Kenya southwards are smaller than northern birds and are sometimes considered to be a separate subspecies, L. c. sycobius. The lesser blue-eared starling is similar to this species, but the blue of the belly does not extend forward of the legs.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United Arab Emirates, Spain.
When to see it
The Greater Blue-eared Starling can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Greater Blue-eared Starling?
- The greater blue-eared starling is a 22 cm long, short tailed bird. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Greater Blue-eared Starling?
- The Greater Blue-eared Starling is a medium sized bird weighing about 86 g.
- Where can you see a Greater Blue-eared Starling?
- The Greater Blue-eared Starling occurs in 35 countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
- What birds look similar to a Greater Blue-eared Starling?
- The Greater Blue-eared Starling is most easily confused with the Burchell's Starling, the Superb Starling and the Rüppell's Starling.
- Is the Greater Blue-eared Starling endangered?
- The Greater Blue-eared Starling is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Greater Blue-eared Starling for real
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