The superb starling is a captivating avian species, known for its dazzling plumage and engaging social behaviors. This striking bird is a common sight across the savannas and open woodlands of East Africa, where its vibrant colors stand out. Its distinctive appearance and cooperative nature make it a fascinating bird to observe.
Distinctive Appearance
The superb starling exhibits a remarkable array of colors. Its back, upper breast, wings, and tail are adorned with iridescent blue-green feathers that shimmer with a metallic sheen. This striking iridescence is not due to pigments but rather to the way light interacts with the microscopic melanin granules arranged within its feathers.
A bold black head frames its pale, creamy-white eyes, which serve as a distinguishing feature from similar species like Hildebrandt’s starling. Below its glossy blue-green chest, a narrow white bar creates a sharp contrast, separating it from its bright red-orange belly and upper legs. The undertail coverts and wing linings are also white, adding to its intricate pattern. These birds measure between 18 to 19 centimeters (7.1 to 7.5 inches) in length. They have a robust body, short tail, and strong feet.
Natural Habitat and Diet
Superb starlings thrive in East African environments, inhabiting savannas, open woodlands, and thorny bush country. They are also observed near human settlements, including gardens and cultivated fields, often at elevations up to about 2,650 meters (8,694 feet). Their widespread distribution covers countries such as Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, and Tanzania. These birds are non-migratory and occupy large territories, sometimes exceeding 0.5 square kilometers (0.2 square miles).
Their omnivorous diet reflects their adaptability. Superb starlings primarily forage on the ground, often in the vicinity of acacia trees. Their main food source consists of insects, including grasshoppers, beetles, termites, ants, and flies. Beyond insects, they also consume berries, small fruits, seeds, and nectar from plants like sisal flowers. They are known to scavenge around human settlements and picnic sites, readily taking advantage of available food scraps.
Social Behavior and Breeding
Superb starlings are gregarious birds, forming groups of up to 40 or more individuals. These groups are territorial and defend their home range year-round, often with multiple breeding pairs present. Outside the breeding season, these flocks may merge with other starling species for increased food acquisition and defense against predators.
Their reproductive strategy involves cooperative breeding, where multiple individuals beyond the primary breeding pair contribute to raising the young. These “helpers,” numbering from 1 to 14, assist in feeding the nestlings and are often related to the breeding male.
Breeding pairs construct dome-like nests of grasses and twigs, lined with feathers, in tree cavities, bushes, or rock crevices. Females lay 3 to 4 dark blue eggs, incubated for 12 to 13 days, primarily by the female. The nestling period lasts 18 to 24 days, after which the young fledge but continue to depend on parents and helpers for food for several weeks.