Wattled Starling

The Wattled Starling, Creatophora cinerea, is a bird of striking contrasts and nomadic tendencies, found traversing the eastern and southern expanses of Africa. It is a medium-sized starling, measuring about 21 cm in length, with a short tail and pointed wings. Its plumage is predominantly grey, save for a white rump and the black of its flight feathers and tail. The breeding male is particularly distinctive, sporting a white shoulder patch and a head adorned with unfeathered yellow skin, as well as black wattles on the forehead and throat. These seasonal features become more pronounced with age, and some mature females may exhibit a subdued version of this plumage. Outside the breeding season, the male's head is feathered, with only a small yellow patch behind the eye and a reduced white shoulder patch. Females and juveniles resemble the non-breeding male but have brown flight feathers and tail.

Identification Tips

In flight, the Wattled Starling is unmistakable, its black flight and tail feathers contrasting sharply with the white rump. The breeding male's head pattern and wattles are also key identification features. Look for the small yellow patch behind the eye in non-breeding males, and note the brownish tinge to the flight feathers and tail in females and juveniles.

Habitat

The Wattled Starling is a species that thrives in grasslands, open woodlands, and cultivated areas, adapting to a variety of environments across its range.

Distribution

This common starling is a nomadic resident, primarily found in eastern and southern Africa. Its range appears to be expanding into West Africa and it has been recorded as far afield as Arabia, Madagascar, and the Seychelles.

Behaviour

Highly gregarious, the Wattled Starling forms large flocks, often mingling with other starling species. It roosts in reedbeds, which can be quite sizable, and these roosts may be shared with other birds.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of the Wattled Starling includes a range of wheezing or grating calls, similar to those of the common starling. The most familiar call is a wheezing "ssreeeeo."

Breeding

A colonial nester, the Wattled Starling may form breeding colonies alongside the Cape weaver. It exclusively nests in trees or bushes, such as acacias and eucalyptus, at heights ranging from 1 to 10 meters. The nest, a globular structure made of twigs and lined with grass or feathers, houses 2 to 5 pale blue eggs, which may have brown spots. Both parents partake in nest building, incubation, and feeding of the young. The eggs hatch after 11 days, and fledglings leave the nest within 13 to 16 days, though they are unable to fly and are vulnerable to predation. Breeding is closely tied to insect availability, and colonies may be abandoned if food sources, such as locust swarms, are depleted.

Diet and Feeding

The Wattled Starling is an omnivore with a preference for insects, including locusts, earning it the local moniker "locust bird." It also consumes seeds and berries. It is known to scavenge at rubbish dumps and frequently perches on livestock, feeding on insects stirred up by the animals and removing ectoparasites.

Conservation status

The Wattled Starling is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable population without significant threats to its survival.