Lamprotornis pulcher
The Chestnut-bellied Starling, Lamprotornis pulcher, is a striking member of the Sturnidae family, renowned for its dazzling metallic plumage and contrasting ventral coloration. Measuring approximately 19-20 cm (7.5-8 inches) in length and weighing around 52-69 grams, this species is easily identifiable by its glossy, iridescent blue-green head, back, wings, and tail, which brilliantly shimmer in the sunlight. Its most distinctive feature, and the origin of its common name, is the rich, rufou...
This starling primarily inhabits dry savanna, open acacia woodland, and thorny scrubland, often near human settlements and cultivated areas. It typically occurs at low to moderate elevations.
Their diet is omnivorous, primarily consisting of insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and termites, supplemented significantly by fruits and berries.
Chestnut-bellied Starlings are highly gregarious birds, often seen in pairs, small family groups, or large mixed flocks, sometimes comprising hundreds or even thousands at communal roosts. They are diurnal, spending their days foraging on the ground with a characteristic confident stride, searchi...
The Chestnut-bellied Starling is a resident species widely distributed across West and Central Africa, extending into parts of East Africa. Its core breeding and year-round range spans from Senegal and Gambia eastward through southern Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon...
Least Concern
- The iridescent plumage of the Chestnut-bellied Starling is structural, meaning the color comes not from pigments but from microscopic feather structures that reflect light in specific ways. - They are highly social, often forming communal roosts that can number in the thousands, creating specta...