Photo: Francesco Veronesi / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Magpie Starling
Speculipastor bicolor
Magpie Starling (Speculipastor bicolor) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Magpie Starling (Speculipastor bicolor) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 64.2 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 Speculipastor
- Species bicolor
Where it lives
Northeastern Ethiopia and northern Somalia to northern Uganda, Kenya and northeastern Tanzania
Quick facts
- Weight
- 64.2 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Magpie Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Magpie Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Magpie Starling (Speculipastor bicolor) is a member of the Sturnidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF ne Ethiopia and n Somalia to n Uganda, Kenya and ne Tanzania.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 64.2 g, with a wing length of about 11.5 cm and a tail of around 8.3 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 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Magpie Starling?
The Magpie Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 64.2 g.
Where does the Magpie Starling live?
The Magpie Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF ne Ethiopia and n Somalia to n Uganda, Kenya and ne Tanzania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Magpie Starling belong to?
The Magpie Starling (Speculipastor bicolor) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Magpie Starling eat?
The Magpie Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Magpie Starling migrate?
The Magpie Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Magpie 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 Magpie Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Magpie 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 Magpie Starling's range?
The Magpie Starling has a mapped global range of about 1.1 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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