The Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) is a northeastern African bird. It belongs to the Passeriforme Order, and the Sturnidae family.
The Superb Starling has a black head, iridescent bluish-green feathers on its back, chest, wings and tail, with an orange-coloured stomach. There is a white bar between the stomach and the chest. Its eyes are white. The juvenile has no white stripe between its stomach and chest, and its eyes are black, not white.
The Superb Starling grows to 18 centimetres (7 inches) tall.
It is quite common, found in gardens, near lakes, and in open scrublands. It lives in southeastern Sudan, northeastern Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania. It prefers dry regions, rather than humid areas.
The Superb Starling feeds on insects, beetles, flies, ants, termites, grasshoppers, and sometimes berries and seeds.
The female lays about four dark blue eggs, and incubates them for 12-14 days. Both the females and males will feed their chicks, which can fly after 17-25 days, and leave the nest after 4-7 weeks.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM