Greater Blue-eared Starling

The Greater Blue-eared Starling is a common and widespread glossy starling found across much of sub-Saharan Africa, frequenting woodland, savanna, and gardens. Its brilliant, shifting iridescent plumage is characteristic of the glossy starling group.

Appearance

Adults are richly iridescent, with a metallic green head and back shading into deep blue-violet on the wings and belly, and a distinctive dark violet-blue patch on the ear coverts that gives the species its name. The eye is orange to yellow-orange, and the bill and legs are black. Juveniles are duller and browner, lacking the full adult iridescence.

Key field marks

• Medium-large glossy starling with strongly iridescent green, blue, and violet plumage
• Distinct dark blue-violet ear patch
• Orange to yellow eye
• Deep blue-violet belly and undertail area, appearing darker than the back

Similar species

The Greater Blue-eared Starling is very similar to the smaller Lesser Blue-eared Starling, which has a duller, less extensive ear patch, a darker eye, and a body that appears more uniformly green with less contrast between back and belly; range and direct size comparison, where both occur, along with the more richly violet belly of the Greater, help separate the two. It can also resemble other glossy starlings such as the Rüppell's Starling, best distinguished by the specific ear patch color and eye color.

Habitat

This species occupies a broad range of wooded and semi-open habitats, including savanna woodland, forest edge, farmland, and gardens.

Range

It is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, occurring from Senegal and the Sahel belt across to Ethiopia and Somalia, and south through East and southern Africa to South Africa.

Migration

Mostly resident, with some populations showing local nomadic movements linked to rainfall and food supply.

Behavior

Greater Blue-eared Starlings are gregarious, often seen in small to large flocks foraging on the ground or in trees, sometimes mixing with other starling species.

Voice

Calls include harsh, grating chatters, whistles, and squeaky notes typical of glossy starlings, often given in a chorus by flock members.

Feeding

The diet includes a wide range of insects such as grasshoppers, termites, and beetles, along with fruit and berries, with birds foraging both on the ground and in the canopy.

Nesting

Nests are built in natural tree cavities or old woodpecker and barbet holes, lined with grass, feathers, and other soft material. Both sexes may help raise the brood, and some populations show cooperative breeding behavior.