Lesser Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chloropterus Scientific name definitions

18 cm; 63–86 g. Small glossy starling with relatively short tail. Nominate race has forehead, crown, nape and upperparts glossy blue-green, some dark spots near tips of uppertail-coverts; lores and ear-coverts appear black, ear-coverts with blue gloss, forming distinctive patch; wing blue-green, blue gloss on primary coverts, dark velvety spots at tips of median and greater coverts and tertials, bronzy-purple epaulet on bend of wing; tail glossy blue-green; chin, throat, breast, most of belly and undertail-coverts glossy blue-green, flanks, thighs and centre of belly violet-blue; iris orange-yellow; bill and legs black. Sexes alike. Juvenile has greenish sheen above, lacks dark spots on wing-coverts, both epaulet and ear patch are dull and indistinct, has grey-tinged fawn-brown throat and underparts, iris brown to greyish. Race elisabeth adult is very like nominate but somewhat less bright green, juvenile is distinctively rufous-brown below.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Woodland of various types. Mainly in savanna woodland, farmland and bushland in W & N parts of range; S race (elisabeth) primarily in miombo (Brachystegia) woodland when breeding, later more scattered, entering towns and gardens. Lowlands in most of range, including Ethiopia; in Kenya, above 1000 m in NW (nominate), coastal in SE (elisabeth); in S mainly above 800 m, in Malawi generally up to 1700 m.

Presumed resident in most areas, with only very local movements. In Nigeria seasonal shifts linked to rainfall, and in Sudan reported as only a Jul–Oct visitor to Khartoum region; in Zambia, appeared to be a dry-season visitor to most N areas.

Diet fruit, nectar and insects. Fruit of Sterculia quinqueloba, Ficus natalensis, and exotics Azadirachta and Michelia champaca. Nectar of Bombax taken. Insects include beetles (Coleoptera), termites (Isoptera), caterpillars (Lepidoptera), and locusts and other grasshoppers (Orthoptera). Forages both in trees and on ground. In pairs when breeding; at other times in small groups and larger flocks, often with L. chalybaeus and L. purpureus, sometimes with Cinnyricinclus leucogaster in W Africa; in Uganda associates with L. chalcurus, and in Zambia with L. acuticaudus. Roosts of 500–1200 individuals in non-breeding season, and roosting flocks of more than 10,000 reported from Zambia, in reedbeds or trees, sometimes associated with L. chalybaeus and Creatophora cinerea.

Song a simple phrase of 6–12 notes, rendered as e.g. "chip chirrew kwip kreeup kwip krip cheeu". Alarm call a harsh "chair"; flight call clear "wirri-gwirri".

Season Feb–Apr in Nigeria (probably also in Ghana); in DRCongo, Mar in N (Uele region) but Sept–Oct in SE (Shaba region); Jun–Jul in Eritrea, and May–Jun in Ethiopia and Kenya; in S (race elisabeth) breeds mainly Sept–Oct, with records to Dec in Malawi and possibly to Mar in Zimbabwe. Presumably monogamous; co-operative breeding has been reported (3 Couto, F.M. and Couto, J.T. (2013). Observations on breeding in the Miombo Blue-eared Starling. Honeyguide. 59(2): 128–129. Close ). Nest a pile of dry grass and leaves, placed in hole in tree, one nest sited in space between tree trunk and dead bark. Clutch 2–5 eggs, pale blue-green, sparingly spotted with grey and rusty red; young fed by both parents; no information on duration of incubation and nestling periods.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Locally common in many areas within its wide range; true status difficult to assess, as often confused with similar species. Population in C Mozambique estimated at more than 10,000 individuals. Race elisabeth occasionally recorded (has bred) in extreme NE South Africa.