# Superb Starling (*Lamprotornis superbus*) The Superb Starling is a colorful bird with shiny blue and green feathers. They are very social and love to be around other birds, often seen hopping on the ground looking for food. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Savannas ![Superb Starling](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Superb_Starling_Portrait.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sumeet Moghe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Superb_Starling_Portrait.jpg) ## Appearance The Superb Starling has striking iridescent blue-green plumage on its back and head, a bright copper-orange belly, and a stark white band separating the two. Its contrasting black face and tail make it truly stand out from other starlings. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Sturnidae - **Genus:** Lamprotornis ## Interesting facts - Superb Starlings sometimes follow large animals like zebras to snatch up insects they stir up! - Their bright blue feathers aren't just blue; they reflect light like tiny prisms! - These birds often build nests inside tree hollows or abandoned nests of other birds! - These noisy birds love to gather in huge, swirling groups called murmurations at dusk! ## Special abilities - **Shimmering Disguise:** Superb Starlings have dazzling iridescent feathers that help them blend into dappled sunlight and signal health to mates. - **Group Guardian:** Superb Starlings can forage and roost in large groups, which helps them find food more efficiently and detect predators sooner. - **Mimic Master:** Superb Starlings can imitate sounds from their environment and other birds, which helps them communicate complex messages. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 18-19 cm - **Wingspan:** 30-35 cm - **Weight:** 0.052-0.069 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-15 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-4 - **Incubation:** 12-14 days ## Diet & Feeding This colorful bird eats a mix of tasty insects, sweet fruits, and sometimes even nectar! - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Spiders, Berries, Fruits, Seeds, Nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** Umbrella Thorn Acacia (*Acacia tortilis*) — Nests and roosts in branches - **Eaten by:** Augur Buzzard (*Buteo rufofuscus*) — Preys on adult starlings - **Eaten by:** [Olive Baboon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/olive-baboon) (*Papio anubis*) — Raids nests for eggs and chicks ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/savanna): This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Superb Starling? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Superb Starling? 18-19 cm ### What is Superb Starling's wingspan? 30-35 cm ### How much does Superb Starling weigh? 0.052-0.069 kg ### How long does Superb Starling live? 5-15 years ### How fast can Superb Starling move? 50 km/h ### What does Superb Starling eat? This colorful bird eats a mix of tasty insects, sweet fruits, and sometimes even nectar! ### Where is Superb Starling usually found? Savannas ## Where to spot - [Biosphäre Potsdam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/biosphare-potsdam) — Brandenburg, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Irgenöd](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-irgenoed) — Bayern, DE · Zoo - [Vogelpark Heiligenkirchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/vogelpark-heiligenkirchen) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Superb Starling](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/superb-starling) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Superb Starling: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/superb-starling)