The Red-winged Starling - Onychognathus morio - is endemic to eastern Africa, from Ethiopia to the Western Cape, South Africa. This species has a wide habitat tolerance. It generally prefers rocky outcrops and gorges in highland grasslands, occasionally visiting forests for fruit.It is now common in many urban areas, due to the similarity between the structure of tall buildings and houses as nest sites with the cliffs of its original habitat. It also nests in residential areas.

Description

The male has a mainly iridescent black plumage, with chestnut flight feathers, which are particularly noticeable in flight. The female has an ash-grey head and upper breast. The juvenile resembles the male, but is less glossy than the adults, and has brown rather than dark red eyes.

Call

This species has a number of whistled calls, but the most familiar is the contact call, cher-leeeoo.

Food

Red-winged Starling is an omnivore, taking a wide range of seeds, berries, nectar from plants and invertebrates. Fruit species that this species may feed on include figs, date palm fruit, berries from species such as wild olive and commercial fruit. In rural areas, Red-winged Starlings are often spotted perching on livestock and game and may take insects and ticks, much like Oxpeckers. It may take nestlings and adults of certain bird species and will also scavenge on carrion and human food scraps.

Breeding

They are territorial, aggressive and intolerant when nesting, and will attack other species, including domestic animals and humans. It is monogamous with pairs staying together for several years, possibly for life. When not breeding, Red-winged Starlings are highly gregarious and will associate with other members of their species in large flocks. This starling is a cliff nester, breeding on rocky cliffs, outcrops and gorges. It builds a lined nest of grass and twigs, and with a mud base, on a natural or structural ledge. The Egg-laying season is from September-March. It lays 2 to 5, usually three, blue eggs, spotted with red-brown. The female incubates the eggs for between 13 to 14 days to hatching. They fledge in another 22 to 28 days. It may be parasitized by the Great Spotted Cuckoo.

Conservation Status – Least Concern

They are not endangered and it can be a pest in some areas, raiding orchards and attacking people that wander too close to their nests.

Birdwatching

This striking Starling can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -

Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari Adventure.

Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.