Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Bristle-crowned Starling
Onychognathus salvadorii
Bristle-crowned Starling (Onychognathus salvadorii) — 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 Bristle-crowned Starling (Onychognathus salvadorii) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 160 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 Onychognathus
- Species salvadorii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 160 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bristle-crowned Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Bristle-crowned Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Bristle-crowned Starling (Onychognathus salvadorii) is a species of bird in the Sturnidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF c Ethiopia to ne Uganda, c Kenya and c Somalia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 160 g, with a wing length of about 15.5 cm and a tail of around 22.8 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 647,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bristle-crowned Starling?
The Bristle-crowned Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 160 g.
Where does the Bristle-crowned Starling live?
The Bristle-crowned Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF c Ethiopia to ne Uganda, c Kenya and c Somalia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Bristle-crowned Starling belong to?
The Bristle-crowned Starling (Onychognathus salvadorii) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Bristle-crowned Starling eat?
The Bristle-crowned Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Bristle-crowned Starling migrate?
The Bristle-crowned Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Bristle-crowned 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 Bristle-crowned Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Bristle-crowned 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 Bristle-crowned Starling's range?
The Bristle-crowned Starling has a mapped global range of about 647,000 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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