Photo: Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ashy Starling
Lamprotornis unicolor
Ashy Starling (Lamprotornis unicolor) — 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 Ashy Starling (Lamprotornis unicolor) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 60.2 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 unicolor
Quick facts
- Weight
- 60.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ashy Starling is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Ashy Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Ashy Starling (Lamprotornis unicolor) is a member of the Sturnidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Kenya and Tanzania.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 60.2 g, with a wing length of about 12.3 cm and a tail of around 16.3 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 309,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ashy Starling?
The Ashy Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 60.2 g.
Where does the Ashy Starling live?
The Ashy Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF Kenya and Tanzania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Ashy Starling belong to?
The Ashy Starling (Lamprotornis unicolor) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Ashy Starling eat?
The Ashy Starling is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Ashy Starling migrate?
The Ashy Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Ashy 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 Ashy Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Ashy Starling can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Ashy Starling's range?
The Ashy Starling has a mapped global range of about 309,000 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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