Golden-Breasted Starlings
Prepare to be dazzled. We are home to males ‘Nick’ and ‘Mick’.
Bright colours help you stand out in the savannah
While many animals and birds in the savannah have dull colours to help them camouflage, golden-breasted starlings stand out with their unusually bright plumage. Bright colours help this species to attract mates, and once paired, they stay together for life. While adults are strikingly eye-catching, their young have more muted hues.
- IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (at relatively low risk of extinction)
- Type: Bird
- Habitat: Savannahs in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania
- Diet: Carnivore – insects, small crustaceans, and small reptiles
- Size: 30 to 27.5 centimetres long
- Weight: 53 to 62 grams
facts about our animals
Fun Facts about Golden Breasted Starlings
This species is also known as a royal starling.
Golden-breasted starlings are cooperative breeders, meaning that all group members assist in nest building and feeding the young.
They build their nests in tree cavities previously occupied by woodpeckers.
Using their beaks, they break open termite mounds to get their favourite food.
Unlike most starling species, the golden breasted starling does not eat fruits or vegetables.
Females lay eggs that are blue-green in colour.
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