Photo: William Rutledge(1732-1786)[1], Vincent Brooks, Day & Son / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Purple-headed Starling
Hylopsar purpureiceps
Purple-headed Starling (Hylopsar purpureiceps) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Purple-headed Starling (Hylopsar purpureiceps) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 62.8 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 Hylopsar
- Species purpureiceps
Quick facts
- Weight
- 62.8 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Purple-headed 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 Purple-headed Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Purple-headed Starling (Hylopsar purpureiceps) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Nigeria to Uganda and e, s DR Congo.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 62.8 g, with a wing length of about 11.4 cm and a tail of around 6.8 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 1.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Purple-headed Starling?
The Purple-headed Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 62.8 g.
Where does the Purple-headed Starling live?
The Purple-headed Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF Nigeria to Uganda and e, s DR Congo, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Purple-headed Starling belong to?
The Purple-headed Starling (Hylopsar purpureiceps) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Purple-headed Starling eat?
The Purple-headed Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Purple-headed Starling migrate?
The Purple-headed Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Purple-headed 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 Purple-headed Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Purple-headed 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 Purple-headed Starling's range?
The Purple-headed Starling has a mapped global range of about 1.8 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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