Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus Scientific name definitions

21–24 cm; 79–106 g. Fairly large starling with proportionately short tail . Nominate race has forehead, crown, nape and upperparts blue-green, blue sheen on uppertail-coverts, which also have faint dark spots at tip; lores blackish, ear-coverts glossy blue, forming distinctive patch; wing blue-green, bronzy epaulet on bend of wing, dark spots on tips of greater and median coverts and on tertials, prominent indentation on inner web of primaries P6-P9; tail more blue than rest of dorsal plumage; chin, throat, breast and undertail-coverts glossy blue-green, flanks, belly and thighs blue with violet sheen; iris colour ranges from white and yellow to orange or red (some regional patterns, also individual variation); bill and legs black. Sexes alike. Juvenile much duller, with underlying brown coloration, more gloss on dorsal surface, iris brown to reddish-brown; iris fully yellow by five months. Race <em>cyaniventris</em> is larger than nominate, bend of wing violet (not blue); <em>sycobius</em> is smaller, with brighter green head and neck; <em>nordmanni</em> is like previous, but has patch at bend of wing coppery (not violet).

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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.

Inhabits dry savanna woodland, in W Africa extending into desert zone. In E & S parts of range found in regions with higher rainfall, including richer woodland and cultivated areas, also gardens, largely above 500 m; above 2000 m on Ethiopian plateau, but also on coastal belt of Kenya.

Presumed resident in most areas. At Nakuru, in Kenya, marked exodus and few birds present Nov–Jan, and wandering flocks of non-breeders noted elsewhere; on Laikipia Plateau largely a breeding visitor Apr–Sept. In W Africa, apparent movement S in dry season.

Diet primarily fruit and insects. Fruit of Ficus, Salvadora persica, Trichilia emetica, Carissa edulis, Euclea divinorum, Rhus, Olea europaea, Aptodytes dimidiata, Strychnos henningsii, Boscia senegalensis, Guibourtia coleosperma and Syzygium; nectar taken from Agave sisalana; also ripe cereal grain taken. Insects recorded as eaten are locusts and other grasshoppers (Orthoptera), beetles (Coleoptera), termites (Isoptera), ants (Formicidae). Observed when anting with Anoplolepis custodiens in South Africa. Takes food discarded by people in national parks, and meat from carcases. Captive individual killed and ate frogs, lizards and baby mice (Muridae). Most food apparently collected on ground , where it hops, rather than walking or running; forages for fruit and nectar in trees, and hawks flying insects. Associates with ungulates; perches on backs of sheep, African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and Burchell's zebra (Equus burchellii). Generally in pairs and small flocks; sometimes up to 300 birds at fruiting trees. Large roosts (holding more than 400 individuals) formed in reedbeds, bushes or thorn trees after breeding.

Song  , often in chorus from trees, a rambling jumble of notes with whining tone. Flight call a shrill "kwee-kwee"; characteristic contact call a nasal "skweer"; alarm a harsh "shwarr". Loud wing noise in flight.

Season mainly Jun–Aug in W Africa; Apr–Jun in Sudan, and May–Sept in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia; Mar–Jun in Uganda and Kenya, but some records in all months in C & E Kenya (evidence of differences in seasonality in adjoining habitats); Oct–Jan in Tanzania, Rwanda and Malawi, and Sept–Dec (mainly Oct–Nov) in Zambia; primarily Oct–Nov in Zimbabwe and South Africa, but some records also Aug–Jan. Monogamous; possible courtship feeding noted in Kenya. Nest in natural hole or old hole of barbet (Capitonidae) or woodpecker (Picidae) 0·5–16 m above ground in tree; in Eritrea reported as using tunnel in vertical bank, and in Mali old nests of White-billed Buffalo Weaver (Bubalornis albirostris), Abdim's Stork (Ciconia abdimii) and Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) used; one record of nesting in hollow fence post; hole unlined, or lined with grass, leaves, bits of plastic and feathers. Vigorous competition for nest-sites with other hole-nesting species such as rollers (Coraciidae), parrots (Psittacidae) and sympatric sturnids. Clutch 3–5 eggs, clear blue, or blue with fine rusty spots; incubation by female alone, period 13–14 days; chicks fed by both male and female, in captivity mostly by female and nestling period 23 days. Nests parasitized by Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) in S Africa, and reports from S & E Africa of parasitism by Greater Honeyguide (Indicator indicator). Some nestling mortality due to mysiasis caused by larvae of the muscid fly Passeromyia heterochaeta. Captive male mated with female L. purpureus; two hybrid young not raised successfully.

Not globally threatened. Common to locally not uncommon; widespread. Population in Kruger National Park, in South Africa, estimated at more than 32,000 individuals; in S Mozambique more than 100,000 birds, but less common in C Mozambique, where numbers estimated at minimum of 10,000 individuals. Present in many protected areas. In dry season, may cause damage to cereal crops in L Chad basin.