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Hildebrandt's Starling is a medium-sized, iridescent starling endemic to East Africa. It is renowned for its striking metallic plumage, featuring a vibrant mix of blue, green, purple, and copper, particularly noticeable in good light. This species is often seen in open woodlands and savannas, foraging on insects and fruits.
Size & lifespan
- Length
- 18-19 cm
- Wingspan
- Approximately 30-32 cm
- Weight
- 50-69 g
- Lifespan
- Up to 10-15 years in the wild
- Diet
- Omnivore, primarily insectivorous but also consumes fruits and berries.
Physical characteristics
- Plumage
- Adults exhibit highly iridescent plumage. The head, upperparts, and breast are a brilliant metallic blue-green, often appearing purple or violet in certain lights. The belly and flanks are a striking rufous-orange, contrasting sharply with the iridescent upperparts. The wings and tail are also iridescent blue-green, with a purplish sheen on the flight feathers. The undertail coverts are blackish.
- Beak shape
- Relatively short, stout, and slightly decurved; black in color.
- Eye color
- Bright orange-red, a distinctive field mark.
- Leg color
- Dark grey to black.
- Distinguishing features
- The combination of iridescent blue-green upperparts, rufous-orange underparts, and bright orange-red eyes is unique among starlings in its range. The metallic sheen is particularly intense.
- Juvenile appearance
- Juveniles are duller than adults, with sooty-brown upperparts and a duller, less vibrant rufous-orange on the underparts. The eyes are dark brown, gradually changing to orange-red as they mature.
- Seasonal changes
- No significant seasonal plumage changes are observed.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Males and females are generally monomorphic in plumage, appearing very similar. Males may be slightly larger on average, but this is not a reliable field identification feature.
How to identify
- 1
Plumage Coloration
Look for the striking combination of iridescent blue-green on the head, back, and breast, contrasting sharply with the deep rufous-orange belly and flanks. No white breast band or vent.
- 2
Eye Color
The bright orange-red eyes are a key diagnostic feature, especially in adults.
- 3
Habitat
Typically found in dry acacia bushland and open savannas of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.
- 4
Behavior
Often seen foraging on the ground in small groups or pairs, sometimes alongside other starling species.
Habitat & range
- Biomes
- Savanna, open woodlands, acacia bushland, and cultivated areas.
- Geographic range
- Endemic to East Africa, primarily found in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.
- Elevation range
- Typically found at elevations between 500 and 2200 meters above sea level.
- Preferred environments
- Prefers dry acacia-commiphora bushland, open grassland with scattered trees, and areas near human habitation where food sources are abundant.
Behavior
- Activity time
- Diurnal, most active during the morning and late afternoon.
- Feeding habits
- Forages primarily on the ground, often in open areas, searching for insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, and termites. Also consumes a variety of fruits and berries, especially during the dry season. They often follow large mammals to catch disturbed insects.
- Social behavior
- Highly social birds, typically found in pairs or small family groups, but can form larger flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixing with other starling species.
- Flight pattern
- Strong, direct flight with rapid wingbeats, typical of starlings. Often flies in small, cohesive flocks.
- Migration pattern
- Resident throughout its range, with no significant migratory movements. May undertake local movements in response to food availability.
- Territoriality
- Pairs defend a breeding territory during the nesting season, but are less territorial outside of this period.
Song & calls
- Song
- The song is a varied and complex series of whistles, trills, clicks, and chattering notes, often incorporating mimicry of other bird species. It can be quite melodious and prolonged.
- Call
- Common calls include harsh 'churr' or 'chick' notes, a sharp 'tew-tew-tew' alarm call, and various contact calls within a flock.
- When they vocalize
- Vocalizes throughout the day, particularly active during the breeding season and at dawn and dusk.
Breeding & reproduction
- Breeding season
- Mainly during the rainy seasons, typically March-May and October-December, but can vary locally.
- Nesting habits
- Nests are typically built in tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, or sometimes in rock crevices or artificial structures. Both sexes participate in nest construction, lining it with grass, leaves, and feathers.
- Clutch size
- 2-4 eggs.
- Egg description
- Eggs are pale blue or greenish-blue, often speckled with reddish-brown or purplish spots, particularly at the larger end. Typically oval-shaped.
- Incubation period
- Approximately 12-14 days.
- Fledging period
- Chicks fledge around 21-23 days after hatching.
- Parental care
- Both parents share incubation duties and feed the nestlings. Young birds remain dependent on parents for some time after fledging.
Where to find
National Parks and Reserves
Easily found in parks such as Amboseli National Park, Tarangire National Park, and Tsavo East/West National Parks.
Open Woodlands and Savannas
Look in areas with scattered acacia trees and open grassy patches.
Near Human Habitation
Can be seen in gardens, agricultural lands, and villages within its range, especially where food is readily available.
Field tips
- Look for movement on the ground. They are primarily ground foragers, so scan open areas and short grass for their distinctive colors.
- Observe in good light. The iridescent plumage is best appreciated in direct sunlight, which brings out the full spectrum of colors.
- Listen for calls. Their varied vocalizations can often draw attention to their presence, even when hidden in foliage.
- Check mixed flocks. Outside the breeding season, they may join mixed-species starling flocks, so carefully scrutinize any group of starlings.
Similar species
Superb Starling
Lamprotornis superbus
The Superb Starling has a white breast band separating the iridescent blue-green upper breast from the rufous-orange belly, and a white vent. Hildebrandt's Starling lacks the white breast band and white vent, with the rufous-orange extending directly up to the iridescent breast.
Shelley's Starling
Lamprotornis shelleyi
Shelley's Starling is generally smaller and has a more purplish-blue iridescence on the upperparts, with a less extensive rufous-orange on the underparts, often confined to the flanks and lower belly. Its eyes are typically yellow, not orange-red.
Quick facts
- Distinctive Feature:
- Iridescent blue-green upperparts, rufous-orange belly, and bright orange-red eyes.
- Geographic Range:
- Southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.
- Diet:
- Insects and fruits.
- Sociality:
- Social, often in pairs or small flocks.
- Conservation Status:
- Least Concern (stable population).
Fun facts
- The species is named after Johann Hildebrandt, a German botanist and explorer who collected the first specimen in the 1870s.
- Like many starlings, Hildebrandt's Starlings are known to mimic the calls of other bird species, adding complexity to their own songs.
- Their brilliant plumage is not due to pigments but to the microscopic structure of their feathers, which refracts light to create iridescent colors.
Scientific classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Genus
- Lamprotornis
- Species
- Lamprotornis hildebrandti
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