Superb Starling

Superb starlings have iridescent blue necks and wings, black heads and brown-and-white bodies. They are well adapted to the changing rainfall patterns and vegetation of eastern Africa, which affects how many insects are around—their favorite food! Starlings usually forage for insects and sometimes fruit on the ground. They are social, living in flocks of 12 or more birds. They use vocalizations such as alarm calls to communicate with one another.

Superb starlings have one mating pair in their flock. Helper birds—often male offspring from previous years—prepare the nest in a thorny tree or tree hole. The female lays a few eggs and incubates them in the nest. Then helpers in the flock help the parents feed the young.