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Overview
Purple-headed starling

Purple-headed starling

Wikipedia

The purple-headed starling, also known as the purple-headed glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae.

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Distribution

Region

Central African Rainforest

Typical Environment

Occurs across the Congo Basin and adjoining forests from southeastern Nigeria and Cameroon through Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to western Uganda and adjacent regions. It favors lowland evergreen forests, forest edges, and clearings with scattered tall trees. The species also uses secondary growth, riverine forest, and forest–savanna mosaics. It is most often encountered in the mid- to upper canopy, sometimes visiting plantations and village fruit trees.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1700 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size20–23 cm
Wing Span30–36 cm
Male Weight0.08 kg
Female Weight0.075 kg
Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 2/5

Useful to know

Also called the purple-headed glossy-starling, it is a striking forest starling of Central Africa noted for its iridescent violet head. It forages high in the canopy, often following fruiting trees and joining mixed-species flocks. Like many starlings, it nests in tree cavities and adapts to secondary forest and edges.

Gallery

Bird photo
Bird photo

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

strong direct flight with short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Typically seen in pairs or small, loose flocks, sometimes joining mixed-species parties in the canopy. Nests are usually in natural cavities or old woodpecker holes in trees. Both sexes likely share in nest defense and provisioning. Outside breeding, it forms feeding groups at fruiting trees.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A series of clear whistles, metallic chinks, and chatters delivered from high perches. Vocal repertoire includes contact calls used to keep flock members coordinated in the canopy.

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