Photo: Yoky / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rüppell’s Starling
Lamprotornis purpuroptera
Rüppell's Starling (Lamprotornis purpuroptera) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rüppell’s Starling (Lamprotornis purpuroptera) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 77.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Sturnidae Starlings, Rhabdornises
- Genus Lamprotornis
- Species purpuroptera
Quick facts
- Weight
- 77.4 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rüppell’s Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Rüppell’s Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rüppell’s Starling (Lamprotornis purpuroptera) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF ne, e.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 77.4 g, with a wing length of about 14.4 cm and a tail of around 13.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rüppell’s Starling?
The Rüppell’s Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 77.4 g.
Where does the Rüppell’s Starling live?
The Rüppell’s Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF ne, e, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rüppell’s Starling belong to?
The Rüppell’s Starling (Lamprotornis purpuroptera) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rüppell’s Starling eat?
The Rüppell’s Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Rüppell’s Starling migrate?
The Rüppell’s Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rüppell’s Starling endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rüppell’s Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Rüppell’s Starling — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rüppell’s Starling's range?
The Rüppell’s Starling has a mapped global range of about 1.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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