Photo: DickDaniels (http://theworldbirds.org/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Superb Starling
Lamprotornis superbus
Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 64.9 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 superbus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 64.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Superb Starling is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Superb Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) belongs to the Sturnidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Ethiopia and Somalia to Tanzania.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 64.9 g, with a wing length of about 11.8 cm and a tail of around 6.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Superb Starling?
The Superb Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 64.9 g.
Where does the Superb Starling live?
The Superb Starling is found across Africa with a range covering AF Ethiopia and Somalia to Tanzania, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Superb Starling belong to?
The Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Superb Starling eat?
The Superb Starling is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Superb Starling migrate?
The Superb Starling is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Superb 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 Superb Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Superb 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 Superb Starling's range?
The Superb Starling has a mapped global range of about 2.1 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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Guides for this bird
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