Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Violet-backed Starling
Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 44 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 Cinnyricinclus
- Species leucogaster
Quick facts
- Weight
- 44 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Violet-backed 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 Violet-backed Starling is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) is a member of the Sturnidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread, also sw Arabian Pen.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 44 g, with a wing length of about 10.5 cm and a tail of around 6.1 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 10 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Violet-backed Starling?
The Violet-backed Starling is a small bird that weighs around 44 g.
Where does the Violet-backed Starling live?
The Violet-backed Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, also sw Arabian Pen, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Violet-backed Starling belong to?
The Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Violet-backed Starling eat?
The Violet-backed Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Violet-backed Starling migrate?
The Violet-backed Starling is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Violet-backed 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 Violet-backed Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Violet-backed Starling can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Violet-backed Starling's range?
The Violet-backed Starling has a mapped global range of about 10 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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