Photo: Rod Waddington / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Socotra Starling
Onychognathus frater
Socotra Starling (Onychognathus frater) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Socotra Starling (Onychognathus frater) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 100 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 Onychognathus
- Species frater
Quick facts
- Weight
- 100 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Socotra Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Socotra Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Socotra Starling (Onychognathus frater) is a member of the Sturnidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Socotra.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 100 g, with a wing length of about 15.3 cm and a tail of around 13.7 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 3,622 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Socotra Starling?
The Socotra Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 100 g.
Where does the Socotra Starling live?
The Socotra Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF Socotra, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Socotra Starling belong to?
The Socotra Starling (Onychognathus frater) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Socotra Starling eat?
The Socotra Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Socotra Starling migrate?
The Socotra Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Socotra 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 Socotra Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Socotra Starling can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Socotra Starling's range?
The Socotra Starling has a mapped global range of about 3,622 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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