Red-winged Starling

Overview

The red-winged starling (Onychognathus morio) is an omnivorous bird in the starling family native to eastern and southern Africa. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is known for adapting well to urban environments due to the structural similarities of buildings to its preferred nesting cliffs.

Identification

• Males feature mainly iridescent black plumage with chestnut flight feathers that are particularly noticeable in flight.
• Females have an ash-grey head and upper breast, distinguishing them from the males.
• Juveniles resemble the male but are less glossy and possess brown rather than dark red eyes.
• The most familiar sound is a whistled contact call described as 'cher-leeeoo'.
• Easily confused with the pale-winged starling, but distinguished by rufous primaries and dark, almost black eyes.

Habitat

The range extends from Ethiopia through eastern Africa to South Africa. It exhibits wide habitat tolerance, inhabiting forests, savannahs, grasslands, wetlands, and fynbos, as well as farmlands and commercial plantations. It has successfully colonized urban centres, nesting in houses and tall buildings that mimic the cliffs of its original habitat.

Diet

As an omnivore, it feeds on a wide range of seeds, berries, nectar from plants like Aloe, and invertebrates such as beetles. It also scavenges on carrion and human food scraps, and may take nestlings or adults of certain bird species. In rural areas, it perches on livestock and game to feed on ectoparasites such as ticks, similar to oxpeckers.

Did you know?

This species is highly territorial and aggressive when nesting, attacking other species including domestic animals and humans. Despite this, it is common in residential areas where it breeds in roofs and eaves.