Notopholia corusca
The Black-bellied Starling, *Notopholia corusca*, is a striking member of the Sturnidae family, renowned for its dazzling metallic plumage. Measuring approximately 18-20 cm (7-8 inches) in length and weighing 45-65 grams, this species exhibits brilliant iridescent blue-green feathers across its head, back, and wings, contrasting sharply with its diagnostic jet-black belly. A key identification mark is its bright yellow-orange eye, which stands out prominently against its dark head. Taxonomica...
Found primarily in open woodlands, wooded savannas, coastal bush, and often adapting to suburban gardens and cultivated areas. It typically inhabits low to mid-elevations, generally below 1800 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide array of invertebrates such as beetles, ants, and caterpillars. It also consumes a significant amount of fruits, berries, and nectar, especially from plants like aloes.
Black-bellied Starlings are highly social and diurnal birds, often seen in pairs or small flocks, which may coalesce into larger, more conspicuous communal roosts outside the breeding season. They are active and versatile foragers, employing a mixed strategy of ground gleaning for invertebrates a...
The Black-bellied Starling is largely a resident species found across a broad swathe of eastern and southern Africa. Its breeding and year-round distribution extends from southern Somalia and coastal Kenya through Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique, southwards into eastern Zimbabwe, Eswatini, and t...
Least Concern
- The Black-bellied Starling's iridescence is structural, meaning the vibrant colors are produced by the microscopic arrangement of feather barbules, causing them to shimmer and change with the angle of light. - Despite its name, the "black" belly can often appear purplish-black or deep blue in c...