Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

Habitat and Geographic Distribution: Wide distribution in East Africa, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and Kenya. Live in savannahs and more arid areas.

Diet: These birds feed on insects (grasshoppers, beetles, termites, ants and flies) and worms, as well as grains, fruits and small berries.

Reproduction: Nests are spherical and made of grasses. Females lay 3 to 4 eggs per clutch that are incubated for 12 days. Both parents take care of the nest and incubating the eggs, they are monogamous. The young take their first flight at 17 to 25 days of age.

Behaviour: They are flock animals, in their case strength being in numbers. Outside the breeding season, flocks of thousands of individuals can form. During the breeding season, the whole flock helps in the building of nests and even in the rearing of the chicks. They are unafraid of humans, and will take the time to steal food scraps.

Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)

Classification

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Sturnidae

Length: 18 to 19 cm

Lifespan: 15 years

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