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Birds
Cape starling
Cape starling · Lamprotornis nitens
Shimmering blue-green bird with reddish wing shoulders and lively calls that bring savannas and open landscapes to life.
Fact file
- Size
- About 22 to 24 cm long, roughly 75 to 100 g in weight
- Males and females
- Males and females look very similar
- Sounds
- Lively, buzzing chattering and whistling calls
- Diet
- Fruit, insects, nectar and occasionally small vertebrates
- Offspring
- Breeding season between October and March, usually 3 to 5 eggs per clutch
How to identify Cape starling
The Cape starling stands out with its shimmering plumage, which gleams metallic blue-green and turquoise in the sun. The subtle reddish areas that give it its name are on the bend of the wing and are often only visible in the right light. The striking, bright yellow eyes form a clear contrast to the dark head.
With a body length of around 22 to 24 centimetres and a strong, slightly curved bill, the Cape starling has a compact build. Its short tail and sturdy stance make it easy to pick out from other glossy starlings by the reddish wing patch and its lively plumage.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
Where Cape starling live
Namibia
- Kwando Core Area
- Brandberg
- Buffalo Core Area
- Bwabwata Nationalpark
- Dolomite & Olifantsrus
- Erongo Gebirge
- Fish River Canyon
- Halali
- Hoanib
- Kalahari
- Mahango Core Area
- Mudumu Nationalpark
- Namib-Naukluft Nationalpark
- NamibRand Nature Reserve
- Namutoni
- Nkasa Rupara National Park
- Okaukuejo
- Otjiwarongo
- Palmwag
- Rundu
- Skelettküste
- Sossusvlei
- Spitzkoppe
- Swakopmund
- Twyfelfontein
- Walvis Bay
- Waterberg Plateau
- Windhoek
South Africa
Discover Cape starling on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
