Lamprotornis chalybaeus

(Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1828)

Vernacular names
English : Greater blue-eared starling
French : Choucador à oreillons bleus

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Passeriformes
Family : Sturnidae
Notes : 4 subspecies known.

Identification
Adults grow to 24 cm in length for a weight of 106 g. Fairly short tail, black bill, yellow to dark orange eyes. Plumage entirely shiny metallic blue to blue-green with violet-blue flanks and dark blue ear-spots. Row of black dots on wings.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in subsaharan Africa, from south Mauritania and Senegal to Ethiopia, south to northern South Africa, west to south Angola and Namibia. Lives in dry savanna woodlands into deserts, cultivated areas, gardens, to 2000 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is globally common and widespread. In some areas (Lake Chad basin), it is considered a crop pest.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

Back to “Starlings and Oxpeckers” page