Violet-backed Starling

What the Violet-backed Starling sounds like

Recorded by paulo kivuyo · Dawn song, song · kikatiti, Meru, Arusha Region, Tanzania · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Violet-backed Starling

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Violet-backed Starling

The map shades 39 countries with regular records, and 4 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 Burundi, United Arab Emirates, Chad, Lesotho.

About the Violet-backed Starling

The violet-backed starling, also known as the plum-coloured starling or amethyst starling, or Ndambamukula in the Venda language, is a relatively small species (17 cm) of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is the only member of the genus Cinnyricinclus. This strongly sexually dimorphic species is found widely in the woodlands and savannah forest edges of mainland sub-Saharan Africa. It is rarely seen on the ground, but instead found in trees and other locations away from the ground.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Wattled StarlingCreatophora cinereaThe wattled starling is 21 cm long, with a short tail and pointed wings. Southern Hill MynaGracula indicaThe southern hill myna has a shiny black plumage. Greater Blue-eared StarlingLamprotornis chalybaeusThe greater blue-eared starling is a 22 cm long, short tailed bird.

Side by side: Violet-backed Starling vs Wattled Starling · Southern Hill Myna vs Violet-backed Starling · Greater Blue-eared Starling vs Violet-backed Starling