Photo: #Mondsee #Irrsee / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Principe Starling
Lamprotornis ornatus
Principe Starling (Lamprotornis ornatus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Principe Starling (Lamprotornis ornatus) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 130 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 ornatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 130 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Principe 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 Principe Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Principe Starling (Lamprotornis ornatus) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Príncipe (c Gulf of Guinea Is.).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 130 g, with a wing length of about 15 cm and a tail of around 10.9 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 147 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Principe Starling?
The Principe Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 130 g.
Where does the Principe Starling live?
The Principe Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF Príncipe (c Gulf of Guinea Is.), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Principe Starling belong to?
The Principe Starling (Lamprotornis ornatus) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Principe Starling eat?
The Principe Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Principe Starling migrate?
The Principe Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Principe 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.
How large is the Principe Starling's range?
The Principe Starling has a mapped global range of about 147 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
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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.