Photo: Lip Kee from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pied Starling
Lamprotornis bicolor
Pied Starling (Lamprotornis bicolor) — 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 Pied Starling (Lamprotornis bicolor) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 104 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 bicolor
Quick facts
- Weight
- 104 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pied Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Pied Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pied Starling (Lamprotornis bicolor) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Botswana through Lesotho and South Africa.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 104 g, with a wing length of about 10.9 cm and a tail of around 9.5 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 788,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pied Starling?
The Pied Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 104 g.
Where does the Pied Starling live?
The Pied Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Botswana through Lesotho and South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Pied Starling belong to?
The Pied Starling (Lamprotornis bicolor) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Pied Starling eat?
The Pied Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Pied Starling migrate?
The Pied Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pied 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 Pied Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Pied 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 Pied Starling's range?
The Pied Starling has a mapped global range of about 788,000 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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