2013 Bonanza Bird #14: Superb Starling

We're adding new birds each day until we reach our 500th Birdorable species! Today's Bonanza bird is the Superb Starling.

Birdorable Superb Starling

Superb Starlings have striking plumage. You might even call the combination of metallic blue and green with contrasting burnt orange superb!

Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus)
Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) by Lip Kee (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Superb Starlings live in open or wooded habitats across parts of eastern Africa. They are ominvorous, eating a diet of insects, fruits, and berries. They often forage for food on the ground. These beautiful birds are cooperative breeders. Family groups band together to raise young. Some family groups may have multiple generations and several cousins, aunts, uncles, siblings, and others joining in to help raise young. The family life of the Superb Starling (and some other eastern African species) is remarkable; read more about them in this article from Cornell: The Uncommon Lifestyle of the Superb Starling.

Superb Starling

Tomorrow we'll add a tiny species to Birdorable. This little gem is a regular breeder in the United States, but not very well-studied.

bonanza-2013-preview-15

Comments

nuthatches are awesome on July 14, 2013 at 11:58 AM wrote:
Buff-bellied Hummingbird!
Louise Warner on February 25, 2017 at 1:13 PM wrote:
buff bill humming bird.
Andrew on November 22, 2018 at 4:00 PM wrote:
sammy the superb starling
Spurwing Plover on May 21, 2022 at 6:50 AM wrote:
He is the better looking of his kind
Spurwing Plover on May 22, 2022 at 9:07 PM wrote:
And he looks superb

Leave a comment

Comments with links or HTML will be deleted. Your comment will be published pending approval.
Your email address will not be published
You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information on how to unsubscribe, our privacy practices, and how we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy. By clicking submit below, you consent to allow Birdorable to store and process the personal information submitted above to provide you the content requested.

The Saker Falcon — a Falconer's Bird in Peril

The Saker Falcon is one of our newest additions to Birdorable. The falcon, which is almost as large as the Gyrfalcon, breeds across parts of eastern Europe and much of central Asia. They prefer open plains and desert-type habitats...

The Blue-fronted Parrot: Nature's Skilled Mimic

When we think of parrots, one thing that often comes to mind is their incredible ability to mimic human speech. Among the avian masters of mimicry, the Blue-fronted Parrot, also known as the Blue-fronted Amazon, stands out with its vibrant personality, striking appearance, and, most notably, its remarkable vocal talents.

Birdorable Alphabet of Birds Poster

Check out this fun new product in the Educational part of our store. Our Birdorable Alphabet poster would be great in classrooms, children's bedrooms, home school rooms, nurseries, and play rooms. You can buy this poster at Zazzle or at Fine Art America with many...

2017 Bonanza Bird #8: South Island Takahē

Take a look at this beauty! Today a colorful New Zealand rail joins Birdorable! Introducing our South Island Takahe! The South Island Takahē is a large flightless species of rail that was once thought to be extinct. A similar species, the...