Photo: Gustav Hartlaub / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Chestnut-winged Starling
Onychognathus fulgidus
Chestnut-winged Starling (Onychognathus fulgidus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Chestnut-winged Starling (Onychognathus fulgidus) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 109 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 fulgidus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 109 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 Chestnut-winged Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Chestnut-winged Starling is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Chestnut-winged Starling (Onychognathus fulgidus) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 109 g, with a wing length of about 12.2 cm and a tail of around 11.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chestnut-winged Starling?
The Chestnut-winged Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 109 g.
Where does the Chestnut-winged Starling live?
The Chestnut-winged Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Chestnut-winged Starling belong to?
The Chestnut-winged Starling (Onychognathus fulgidus) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Chestnut-winged Starling eat?
The Chestnut-winged Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Chestnut-winged Starling migrate?
The Chestnut-winged Starling is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Chestnut-winged 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 Chestnut-winged Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Chestnut-winged 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 Chestnut-winged Starling's range?
The Chestnut-winged Starling has a mapped global range of about 2.4 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.
Explore more birds
More in Sturnidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
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.