The Greater Blue-eared Starling is a medium-sized, glossy bird found in sub-Saharan Africa that has bright, iridescent blue-green plumage with a distinctive blue ear-patch and a yellow or orange eye. It is an omnivorous, diurnal bird that eats fruit and insects, is highly gregarious, and often forms large flocks or roosts, sometimes reaching over 300 individuals. This species is known for its musical and grating calls, with a distinctive nasal "squee-ar" contact call.
Appearance
Size: About 21-24 cm long.
Plumage: Glossy blue-green with a purple-blue belly and a blue ear-patch. It has a blue-black mask-like patch around its eyes.
Eyes: Bright yellow or orange irises.
Juveniles: Duller than adults, with brown undertones.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open woodland and savanna.
Range: Native to much of sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south through eastern Africa to northeastern South Africa and Angola.
Behavior and diet
Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insects, fruits, and sometimes nectar or cereal grains.
Foraging: Often forages on the ground by hopping and can also scavenge from human food sources.
Social behavior: Highly gregarious, often seen in flocks. They may gather in large numbers, sometimes over 300, at fruiting trees or communal roosts.
Vocalizations: Has a range of calls, but is most known for a nasal "squee-ar" contact call.
Other facts
Breeding: They are sometimes a host for the great spotted cuckoo.
Conservation status: The population is suspected to be stable.
