Onychognathus neumanni
Neumann's Starling (Onychognathus neumanni) is a striking member of the Sturnidae family, renowned for its iridescent dark plumage contrasting with prominent rufous-chestnut primary patches visible in flight. Averaging 28-31 cm in length with a wingspan of 45-50 cm and weighing 100-130 grams, its sleek, glossy black body often shows blue-green or purple sheens depending on the light. A distinctive feature is its bright, piercing orange-yellow eye, which stands out against its dark head, servi...
Primarily inhabiting rocky escarpments, deep ravines, and montane forests, Neumann's Starling can be found from approximately 800 to 2,500 meters above sea level, favoring areas with interspersed open woodlands.
An omnivorous species, Neumann's Starling primarily feeds on a diverse array of fruits, especially figs and berries, supplemented by a wide variety of insects, such as beetles, grasshoppers, and termites. Foraging occurs both arboreally and terrestrially, with occasional aerial hawking.
Neumann's Starlings are highly social birds, typically seen in pairs or small family groups, but forming larger flocks of up to fifty individuals outside the breeding season, especially at communal roosts on cliff faces or large trees. They are diurnal, active from dawn to dusk, often beginning t...
Neumann's Starling is endemic to the rocky highlands and escarpments of East and Central Africa. Its breeding range extends across the Rift Valley systems, primarily found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a resident species throughout its distrib...
Least Concern
- Neumann's Starling has been observed "anting," a peculiar behavior where birds rub ants on their feathers, possibly to rid themselves of parasites or to apply formic acid. - Its distinctive orange-yellow eye is so vibrant that local legends in some regions attribute it to a mythical "sun spark"...