- Where to see one
- 10 U.S. zoos in our directory hold superb starling, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
- Native range
- East Africa — Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, and Tanzania
- Size
- 18 to 19 cm (7.1–7.5 in) long
About the superb starling
The superb starling is a member of the starling family found across a large range in East Africa, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, and Tanzania. It is a small, short-tailed bird measuring 18 to 19 cm (7.1 to 7.5 in) long, with a long, narrow bill, a robust body, and strong feet. Adults have black heads and an iridescent blue-to-green back, upper breast, wings, and tail. The belly is red-orange, separated from the blue breast by a white bar, and the undertail coverts and wing linings are white. Juveniles are duller, with at most a suggestion of the adult white breast band, and their eyes start out brown before turning creamy white with age.
The superb starling closely resembles Hildebrandt's starling, another East African species, but the two can be told apart: superb starlings have pale creamy-white eyes rather than red, and only adult superb starlings show the white breast band. The species lives in savanna, thornbush and acacia arid areas, open woodland, lakeshore woodland, gardens, and cultivated fields, from sea level up to 2,650 m (8,690 ft).
Behavior and diet
Diet
Insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, termites, ants and flies, plus worms, grains, fruits, and small berries
The superb starling feeds mostly on the ground, often near or beneath acacia trees. Its diet is built mainly around insects — grasshoppers, beetles, termites, ants, and flies — along with worms, and it also eats grains, fruits, and small berries. The species is gregarious, typically tame, and generally unafraid of people.
It has a long, loud song made up of trills and chatters, switching to a softer song of repeated phrases around midday, and it also gives several harsh calls, the most complex of which has been described as a shrill, screeching "skerrrreeee-cherrrroo-tcherreeeeeet."
Breeding season runs from October to February in Ethiopia and from March to June in Somalia. Superb starlings build spherical nests of grasses and twigs in bushes, in trees of medium height, and in rock crevices. Females lay three to four eggs, which are incubated for twelve days, and both parents share in caring for the young.
Range and habitat
Habitat
Savanna, thornbush and acacia arid areas, open woodland, lakeshore woodland, gardens, and cultivated fields, at elevations of 0–2,650 m (0–8,690 ft)
The superb starling has a very large range across East Africa, commonly found in Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, and Tanzania. It occupies a broad set of habitats within that range, from savanna, thornbush, and acacia arid areas to open woodland, lakeshore woodland, gardens, and cultivated fields, spanning elevations from sea level to 2,650 m (8,690 ft).
Conservation status
The superb starling is classified as Least Concern. No specific threats to the species or dedicated conservation programs are documented here.
Where to see superb starling in the U.S.
10 zoos across 8 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 10 zoos holding superb starling by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
California· 2
Idaho· 1
New York· 2
North Dakota· 1
Oklahoma· 1
Tennessee· 1
Virginia· 1
Wisconsin· 1
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
Superb Starling: common questions
Is the superb starling endangered?
No, it is classified as Least Concern.
How big does a superb starling get?
About 18 to 19 cm (7.1–7.5 in) long.
What does a superb starling eat?
Mostly insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, termites, ants, and flies, along with worms, grains, fruits, and small berries.
Where do superb starlings live in the wild?
Across East Africa, in Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, and Tanzania, in habitats ranging from savanna to gardens and farmland.
Which U.S. zoos have superb starlings?
Six zoos in the Feather & Fang directory list this species, including the Los Angeles Zoo, the Oakland Zoo, and the Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum.
