Photo: Maans Booysen, Birding Weto / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sharp-tailed Starling
Lamprotornis acuticaudus
Sharp-tailed Starling (Lamprotornis acuticaudus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Sharp-tailed Starling (Lamprotornis acuticaudus) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 67.6 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 acuticaudus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 67.6 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sharp-tailed Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Sharp-tailed Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sharp-tailed Starling (Lamprotornis acuticaudus) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF c.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 67.6 g, with a wing length of about 12.4 cm and a tail of around 10.3 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 1.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sharp-tailed Starling?
The Sharp-tailed Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 67.6 g.
Where does the Sharp-tailed Starling live?
The Sharp-tailed Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Sharp-tailed Starling belong to?
The Sharp-tailed Starling (Lamprotornis acuticaudus) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Sharp-tailed Starling eat?
The Sharp-tailed Starling is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Sharp-tailed Starling migrate?
The Sharp-tailed Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sharp-tailed 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 Sharp-tailed Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Sharp-tailed Starling — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sharp-tailed Starling's range?
The Sharp-tailed Starling has a mapped global range of about 1.5 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
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
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.