Onychognathus blythii
The Somali Starling (*Onychognathus blythii*) is a striking member of the Sturnidae family, measuring approximately 25-30 cm (10-12 inches) with a long, graduated tail. Males exhibit an entirely glossy, iridescent black plumage, often appearing blue-black in good light, contrasted dramatically by bright chestnut or orange-rufous primaries that are highly conspicuous in flight. Females are similar but distinguishable by a duller, dusky grey head and neck, clearly demonstrating sexual dimorphis...
This species primarily inhabits arid and semi-arid rocky country, including cliffs, gorges, inselbergs, and often adapts to human-modified environments like old buildings, bridges, and quarries. It occurs across a significant elevation range, from sea-level coastal areas up to approximately 2,000...
The Somali Starling is an omnivorous species, with its diet primarily consisting of various fruits and berries, supplemented by a wide array of insects and other invertebrates. They forage opportunistically from trees, shrubs, and the ground.
Somali Starlings are highly social, often forming large, vocal flocks outside the breeding season, which can number in the hundreds as they gather at communal roosts on cliffs or large trees at dusk. They are diurnal foragers, employing a versatile strategy that includes gleaning insects from fol...
The Somali Starling is primarily a resident species found throughout the Horn of Africa, encompassing a broad range across Djibouti, Eritrea, northern and eastern Ethiopia, central and northern Somalia, and extending into northeastern Kenya. Within this distribution, two subspecies are recognized...
Least Concern
- The Somali Starling belongs to the genus *Onychognathus*, whose name comes from Ancient Greek meaning "claw-jaw," referring to the shape of the bill. - Unlike many starlings, the Somali Starling exhibits clear sexual dimorphism, with females having a distinctive grey head and neck. - Their brig...