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Is This Really a Starling?

I captured this bird while on safari at the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Africa. Looking through my pocket guide of East Africa birds, it looks closest to a starling. I have been hesitant to post it since I am not convinced of its identification. Is this really a starling?

I thought it looked like a grackle until I realized that grackles do not live in Africa. Time to ask for help from actual birders. So I am turning to others in the blogging world for help. Any guesses on the identification of this curious bird? Is this an African starling.

All photos are my own. ©Pepper Tron/Heavens Sunshine
No usage allowed in any form without my written consent.

Posted for Bird of the Week

I am curious to know your thoughts.

26 responses to “Is This Really a Starling?”

  1. Teresa Avatar
    Teresa

    It looks a bit stern.

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Yes, it does. I think it was annoyed at me a bit. 😊

      Reply
      1. Teresa Avatar
        Teresa

        Haha

        Reply
  2. Filipa Moreira da Cruz Avatar
    Filipa Moreira da Cruz

    Beautiful! 💙🩵

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      The starling thanks you. 😉

      Reply
  3. Anne Avatar
    Anne

    Your bird is definitely a starling – not one that occurs in South Africa, but it is most likely a Rüppell’s starling (Lamprotornis purpuroptera), also known as Rueppell’s glossy-starling

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Thanks for taking time to help with bird identification, Anne. It is much appreciated. 😊

      Reply
  4. WanderingCanadians Avatar
    WanderingCanadians

    Great shot! What a pretty bird too.

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Thanks! I thought it was pretty too. 😊

      Reply
  5. I. J. Khanewala Avatar
    I. J. Khanewala

    It does look like a starling. I thought it looked like one of the blue eared starlings, but the white eyes mean that’s definitely wrong. If you had a couple of other photos it would help in identification.

    That said, I know little about African birds

    Reply
  6. Rupali Avatar
    Rupali

    I am not good with names but such a lovely bird.

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      No problem, Rupali. Thanks for taking the time to comment anyway. 😊

      Reply
  7. bushboy Avatar
    bushboy

    I have no idea but it’s not pleased in getting it’s photo taken 😂

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      No, it was not at all happy. 😁

      Reply
  8. tanjabrittonwriter Avatar
    tanjabrittonwriter

    Having never birded in Africa, I don’t know what kind of starling this is. It’s very handsome, regardless. I was amazed to learn that the starling family counts 125 different starlings.

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Wow! 125 different ones? Now I don’t feel so bad about being confused about its correct identification. Donna, an avid birder, identified it as Ruppell’s Starling (Lamprotornis purpuroptera).

      Reply
  9. Arati Avatar
    Arati

    Such a richness of blues

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Oh, I know! I loved the sparkle in the sunshine. 😊

      Reply
  10. Bay Photos By Donna Avatar
    Bay Photos By Donna

    I believe it is a Rüppell’s Starling (Lamprotornis purpuroptera). It looks very close to our Boat-tailed Grackle for sure! Nice shot, Pepper!

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Whoa! It is very similar to the Cape Starling, isn’t it? I looked it up and it is found in Kenya and Tanzania. We were so close to the Kenya/Tanzania border when I saw this one so that makes sense. Your help is always appreciated. Thank you so much! 😉

      Reply
      1. Bay Photos By Donna Avatar
        Bay Photos By Donna

        Yes, it is close to the Cape, but the Cape has a short tail and is more medium-sized than the elongated Ruppell’s. 😊

        Reply
        1. Pepper Avatar
          Pepper

          Those bits of information make all the difference. Thanks for your help. 😊

          Reply
  11. Eliza Waters Avatar
    Eliza Waters

    I think it is a Cape starling (Lamprotornis nitens). I follow a couple SA blogs and what they call starlings look like our grackles, and not the European starling we are familiar with.

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Oh, yay! I looked it up and I think you are right. Thanks so much for your help, Eliza. 😊

      Reply
      1. Eliza Waters Avatar
        Eliza Waters

        Anne further isolated and corrected my guess. She is my African birding expert!

        Reply
        1. Pepper Avatar
          Pepper

          I just saw Anne’s comment. Thanks for sending me in the right direction, Eliza. 😊

          Reply
error: All photos are copyrighted by Pepper Tron (aka Irene Tron & Heavens Sunshine). All rights reserved. Unauthorized use is prohibited.