Golden-breasted Starling

The Golden-breasted Starling, also known as the Royal Starling, is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful starlings in the world. It inhabits dry bushland and thornscrub in the Horn of Africa and parts of East Africa.

Appearance

Both sexes share the same brilliant plumage: a metallic green and violet-blue head, back, and wings, a narrow violet band across the upper breast, and a rich golden-yellow belly. The tail is exceptionally long and strongly graduated, giving the bird an elegant, elongated silhouette unlike any other starling in its range. The eye is pale yellow-white, standing out against the dark, glossy head.

Key field marks

• Very long, graduated tail, longer proportionally than in any other African starling
• Iridescent green and violet upperparts with a violet breast band
• Bright golden-yellow belly
• Pale, whitish-yellow eye

Similar species

No other starling within its range shares the combination of a golden belly and such an extremely long tail, making the Golden-breasted Starling essentially unmistakable where it occurs. Superb and Greater Blue-eared Starlings, which can share similar dry bush habitat, both have much shorter tails and lack the golden-yellow belly.

Habitat

This species inhabits dry, thorny bushland, acacia-commiphora scrub, and semi-arid savanna, generally avoiding both dense forest and open grassland.

Range

It is restricted to the Horn of Africa and adjacent East Africa, including Somalia, eastern Ethiopia, and northern and eastern Kenya, with some range extending into northeastern Tanzania.

Migration

Generally resident and nomadic within its arid range, with local movements likely tied to rainfall and food availability rather than true long-distance migration.

Behavior

Golden-breasted Starlings are typically seen in small, active flocks moving through dry bush, foraging both on the ground and in low trees and shrubs. Their long tails are conspicuous in flight and while perched.

Voice

Calls include a variety of harsh chattering notes, squeaks, and whistles typical of starlings, often given as a flock communicates while foraging.

Feeding

The diet consists mainly of insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, and termites, taken from the ground or foliage, supplemented with fruit and berries when available.

Nesting

Golden-breasted Starlings nest in cavities, often old woodpecker or barbet holes, or natural holes in trees, sometimes reusing the same site across seasons. They are known to breed cooperatively at times, with helpers assisting a breeding pair in feeding young.