Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lesser Blue-eared Starling
Lamprotornis chloropterus
Lesser Blue-eared Starling (Lamprotornis chloropterus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lesser Blue-eared Starling (Lamprotornis chloropterus) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 73.1 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 chloropterus
Where it lives
Senegal, Gambia and Guinea to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya to northern Botswana and Zimbabwe
Quick facts
- Weight
- 73.1 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lesser Blue-eared Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Lesser Blue-eared Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lesser Blue-eared Starling (Lamprotornis chloropterus) is a species of bird in the Sturnidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal, Gambia and Guinea to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya to n Botswana and Zimbabwe.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 73.1 g, with a wing length of about 11.8 cm and a tail of around 7.2 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 5.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lesser Blue-eared Starling?
The Lesser Blue-eared Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 73.1 g.
Where does the Lesser Blue-eared Starling live?
The Lesser Blue-eared Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal, Gambia and Guinea to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya to n Botswana and Zimbabwe, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Lesser Blue-eared Starling belong to?
The Lesser Blue-eared Starling (Lamprotornis chloropterus) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Lesser Blue-eared Starling eat?
The Lesser Blue-eared Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Lesser Blue-eared Starling migrate?
The Lesser Blue-eared Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Lesser Blue-eared 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 Lesser Blue-eared Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Lesser Blue-eared 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 Lesser Blue-eared Starling's range?
The Lesser Blue-eared Starling has a mapped global range of about 5.7 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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