Hildebrandt's Starling
Lamprotornis hildebrandti
| Scientific name | Lamprotornis hildebrandti |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Sturnidae |
| Size | Length about 18-19 cm; weight about 50-70 g |
How to identify
Glossy starling with iridescent blue-green upperparts, rich orange-rufous belly and undertail, and a bright red-orange eye.
Habitat
Open acacia savanna, grassland, and lightly wooded highlands of East Africa
Diet
Insects, especially beetles and termites, plus fruit and berries
When it is active
Diurnal, foraging on the ground in pairs or small groups and perching openly in trees
Where it lives
Highlands and plains of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa
How to spot it
Scan short-grass plains and acacia edges in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Kenyan highlands where they perch prominently
Photography tips
Expose carefully for the dark iridescent plumage; side light reveals the blue-green sheen and the warm orange belly
Threats
No major threats; common within its fairly restricted East African range
Similar species
Superb Starling is smaller with a white breast band separating blue breast from orange belly; Hildebrandt's lacks the white band and has a red eye.
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