Lamprotornis chalybaeus
The Greater Blue-eared Starling, *Lamprotornis chalybaeus*, is a strikingly iridescent passerine, celebrated for its shimmering blue-green plumage that often shifts to violet or bronze depending on the light, and its piercing bright yellow eyes. Measuring approximately 21-23 cm (8.3-9.1 inches) in length and weighing 50-80 grams (1.8-2.8 oz), it exhibits a robust build with a dark bill and legs. A key identification mark is the distinct metallic blue-green coloration over most of its body, pa...
Found primarily in open savanna woodlands, acacia scrublands, cultivated areas, and near human settlements, often frequenting areas with scattered trees and water sources. Occurs from sea-level up to approximately 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) in elevation.
Omnivorous, with a diet primarily consisting of insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and termites, often caught while walking on the ground or following large mammals. They also consume a significant amount of fruit, including berries and figs, and occasionally nectar.
Greater Blue-eared Starlings are highly social birds, often forming large, vocal flocks outside the breeding season, which can number in the hundreds or even thousands at communal roosts in trees or reedbeds. They are diurnal, spending their days foraging actively on the ground or in low vegetati...
The Greater Blue-eared Starling boasts a vast distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, extending from the Atlantic coast of Senegal and Mauritania in the west, eastward through the Sahel and savanna belts to Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Its range stretches south through East Africa, covering coun...
Least Concern
- The Greater Blue-eared Starling's striking iridescence is structural, meaning the color isn't from pigments but from the microscopic structure of their feathers reflecting light, creating its metallic sheen. - They are known to follow large grazing animals like cattle, antelopes, or elephants, ...