Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Babbling Starling
Neocichla gutturalis
Babbling Starling (Neocichla gutturalis) — 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 Babbling Starling (Neocichla gutturalis) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 66.7 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 Neocichla
- Species gutturalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 66.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Babbling Starling is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Babbling Starling is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Babbling Starling (Neocichla gutturalis) is a member of the Sturnidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF c.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 66.7 g, with a wing length of about 10.8 cm and a tail of around 8.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 292,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Babbling Starling?
The Babbling Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 66.7 g.
Where does the Babbling Starling live?
The Babbling Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Babbling Starling belong to?
The Babbling Starling (Neocichla gutturalis) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Babbling Starling eat?
The Babbling Starling is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Babbling Starling migrate?
The Babbling Starling is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Babbling 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 Babbling Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Babbling 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 Babbling Starling's range?
The Babbling Starling has a mapped global range of about 292,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Sturnidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.