Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Madagascar Starling
Hartlaubius auratus
Madagascar Starling (Hartlaubius auratus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Madagascar Starling (Hartlaubius auratus) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 40.5 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 Hartlaubius
- Species auratus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 40.5 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Madagascar Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Madagascar Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Madagascar Starling (Hartlaubius auratus) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Madagascar (except sw).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 40.5 g, with a wing length of about 9.9 cm and a tail of around 7.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 410,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Madagascar Starling?
The Madagascar Starling is a small bird that weighs around 40.5 g.
Where does the Madagascar Starling live?
The Madagascar Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF Madagascar (except sw), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Madagascar Starling belong to?
The Madagascar Starling (Hartlaubius auratus) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Madagascar Starling eat?
The Madagascar Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Madagascar Starling migrate?
The Madagascar Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Madagascar 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 Madagascar Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Madagascar Starling — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Madagascar Starling's range?
The Madagascar Starling has a mapped global range of about 410,000 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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