Photo: Giles Laurent / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Cape Starling
Lamprotornis nitens
Cape Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Cape Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 85.6 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 Lamprotornis
- Species nitens
Where it lives
Western DR Congo through western, southern Angola to Namibia, Botswana, southern Zimbabawe, southern Mozambique and northern, eastern South Africa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 85.6 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cape Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Cape Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Cape Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w DR Congo through w, s Angola to Namibia, Botswana, s Zimbabawe, s Mozambique and n, e South Africa.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 85.6 g, with a wing length of about 11.8 cm and a tail of around 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 3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cape Starling?
The Cape Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 85.6 g.
Where does the Cape Starling live?
The Cape Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF w DR Congo through w, s Angola to Namibia, Botswana, s Zimbabawe, s Mozambique and n, e South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Cape Starling belong to?
The Cape Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Cape Starling eat?
The Cape Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Cape Starling migrate?
The Cape Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Cape 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 Cape Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Cape 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 Cape Starling's range?
The Cape Starling has a mapped global range of about 3 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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