Least Concern Birds

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Greater Blue-eared Starling, omnivore in African savannas and farmlands.

Scientific name	Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Swahili name	Nyekundu ya buluu kubwa ya masikio
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Sturnidae
Size	Male: approximately 20-23 cm, weight about 75-90 g; female: slightly smaller, weight about 70-85 g

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How to identify

Entire plumage is bright metallic blue; ear coverts show a distinct blue sheen; eyes yellow; bill black and relatively short; tail short and wedge-shaped

Habitat

Open woodland savanna, open shrubland, edges of farmland and near villages

Diet

Omnivorous, mainly feeding on insects, fruits, and seeds, occasionally small invertebrates

When it is active

Diurnal, active during the day

Where it lives

Distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Masai Mara region

How to spot it

Look for them at dawn or dusk in open grasslands or shrub edges, noting the bright blue feather reflections

Photography tips

Use natural light to highlight the metallic blue plumage, photograph from a distance with a telephoto lens to avoid disturbance

Threats

Habitat destruction and agricultural expansion, but overall population stable

Similar species

Lesser Blue-eared Starling (Lamprotornis purpuroptera) is smaller with purplish ear coverts; Purple Starling (Lamprotornis purpureus) has a more purple coloration and larger size

📖 how to spot the greater blue eared starling on safari