Superb Starling

By Charlie • November 25, 2006 • 4 comments

Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus
Uhuru Park, Nairobi, Kenya, November 2006

Endemic to NE Africa, the aptly-named Superb Starlings are abundant across parts of their huge range and are commonly found in parks and gardens as well as in less urban settings. These were all photographed (except for the last bird) in Nairobi’s crowded, city-centre Uhuru Park and were quite approachable, hopping around the feet of people dozing in the sunshine much like sparrows and ‘common starlings’ in Europe or the US. Identification is relatively straightforward, but the white vents, white eyes, and white band across the breast of the adults is diagnostic.

adult superb starling

Adult Superb Starlings - sexes are alike.

juvenile superb starling

Juvenile Superb Starlings - note lack of white breast band and dark eye

Adult Superb Starling - Nairobi, June 2006: carrying food for a nesting juvenile near Nairobi NP

All photos copyright Charlie Moores

Tags: kenya, nairobi, starlings

Looking for a good book or field guide? We've got some suggestions...

Explore These Related Posts

...Or These Blasts From The Past

About the Author

Charlie

Charlie works for an airline and has birded all over the world for twenty years. He wants to be a writer, and thinks no-one would believe his life could be so charmed if he didn't take photos of as many of the birds he sees as possible. Blogging with 10,000 Birds fits his aims, needs, and insecurities perfectly. Really - do birders get much more fortunate than this?

4 Responses to “Superb Starling”

Salty du Rand Nov 29th, 2008 at 11:57 am

Charlie,

I also work for an airline and is new to birding. Seen the Superb Starling this morning for the first time in Nairobi on the tarmac. Did not have a camera with me. Thanks for your clear photographs.

Salty
Charlie Dec 3rd, 2008 at 12:02 am

Hi Salty

You’re very welcome. Who do you work for? If I can help in any way please feel free to ask - I remember when I first starting flying and seeing hundreds of new birds I felt completely overwhelmed…

Cheers
jake Mar 22nd, 2009 at 3:24 pm

personally im only 13 but i love watching birds i would love to be able to go to africa and travel around the world talking pics of birds for a living and now i have one more bird to add to my memory and to my wall of birds thanks alot charlie great pics
Charlie Mar 26th, 2009 at 6:31 am

Hi Jake

Hey, I’m really glad to hear from a young(ish) birder - believe me the world’s birds are going to need your generation’s help like no other time in history. I’m really pleased I may be inspiring you (even in a small way). If I can help encourage your interest in birds at all just let me know, okay.

All the best

Charlie

Share Your Thoughts

Asides

First Bird of 2010

What was your first bird of 2010? Let us know in the comments…and, if you wrote a blog post or have a picture of your first bird of the year online somewhere, well, leave a link in the comments too.
Happy New Year from all three of us at 10,000 Birds! And here’s hoping you see many great birds, including lots of lifers, in 2010!

‘Mermaids’ battered by boats

“Each year, about 87 manatees are killed by collisions with boats, the single greatest cause of premature mortalities. This is more than seven times number of manatees that the Fish and Wildlife Service estimates can be killed without impairing the species’ recovery. Meanwhile, boating in Florida is at an all-time high and increasing with more boats in the water…”. Another good example of why the International Year of Biodiversity ought to matter.

Residents Crying Foul…

…over Common Peafowl. Seems that Longboat Key, Florida, has way too many of the gorgeous gregarious birds and has to continually cull the flock. And Longboat Key isn’t the only community in the U.S. with a peafowl problem: apparently California and Texas locations have had issues as well. So introducing non-native birds because they are pretty might not be the best idea? Who would’ve thunk it?

Say Hello to the Limestone Leaf-warbler

Is a new Old World warbler better than an old New World warbler? You be the judge! A new species, dubbed the Limestone Leaf-warbler (Phylloscopus calciatilis), has been discovered in the karst limestone regions of Vietnam and Laos. As ever, BirdLife International has the scoop.