Onychognathus salvadorii
The Bristle-crowned Starling, *Onychognathus salvadorii*, is a striking East African endemic belonging to the Sturnidae family, closely related to other red-winged starlings. This medium-sized passerine measures approximately 26-28 cm in length and weighs around 110-120 grams. Its most distinctive feature is the eponymous 'bristle-crown' - stiff, hair-like feathers on its head that give it a unique, somewhat shaggy appearance. The plumage is predominantly glossy black with a strong iridescent...
This starling primarily inhabits arid to semi-arid rocky gorges, cliffs, escarpments, and open acacia woodlands at elevations typically between 900 and 1,800 meters.
Their diet is omnivorous, consisting primarily of fruits, especially figs, and insects like beetles and grasshoppers, foraged by gleaning and probing.
Bristle-crowned Starlings are diurnal and highly social birds, often seen in pairs or small, noisy flocks, especially outside the breeding season, occasionally forming larger roosts in cliff faces. They forage both on the ground and in trees, employing gleaning and probing techniques to find food...
The Bristle-crowned Starling is an East African endemic with a relatively restricted but stable distribution. Its primary range extends across the highlands and associated escarpments of Ethiopia, Eritrea, southeastern South Sudan, and north-central Kenya. In Ethiopia, it is widely distributed th...
Least Concern
- The 'bristle-crown' that gives this starling its name refers to stiff, hair-like feathers on its head, a unique feature among African starlings. - These starlings are expert acrobats of the cliffs, often seen clinging to vertical rock faces with remarkable agility. - Like many *Onychognathus* s...