Red-billed Starling look-alikes
Onychognathus taboranus
Spotted a bird? Identify it instantly with the Birdby app
Open the appSeveral birds can be mistaken for the Red-billed Starling. Compare the key differences below to confirm your sighting.
Birds to compare
Chestnut-winged Starling
Onychognathus tenuirostris
Key differences
The Chestnut-winged Starling has a longer, more slender bill and a more extensive rufous patch on the wing, covering both primaries and secondaries. Its overall body shape is also more slender. Its range is generally restricted to highland forests.
Slender-billed Starling
Onychognathus walleri
Key differences
The Slender-billed Starling has a noticeably thinner and longer bill, and its rufous wing patch is typically less extensive and often duller. It is also generally found in higher altitude montane forests.
Red-winged Starling
Onychognathus morio
Key differences
The Red-winged Starling is larger, has a more robust bill, and its rufous wing patch is typically brighter and more extensive, covering both primaries and secondaries. Its range overlaps in some areas, but the Red-billed Starling is generally found in drier, more open habitats.
Explore the Red-billed Starling
Identify birds anywhere
Free on iOS, Android, and Web. Photo & sound identification, full species database, and your personal life list.