THE glossy starling is a common resident which is widespread throughout Southern Africa, except the south-western Cape.
Its voice is a two-syllabled, deep muffled ‘turr – rreeu’ which is always uttered on take off.
The glossy starling likes acacia, savanna, riverine bush, semi-arid scrub, forest edges, farmyards, exotic plantations, towns, parks and gardens.
Usually shy, the bird is usually found in pairs or small flocks of six to 10 birds. It forages arboreally or on the ground and runs well with its longish legs.
Its flight is fast and direct, and it sings from its perch inside or on top of trees.
Its food consists of insects, fruit, nectar of aloes and bone-meal from feeding trays.
The glossy starling breeds between October and February and its nest is a pad of grass, snakeskin, paper, dung and other soft materials. It builds its nest in natural holes in trees, under eaves of buildings, in chimney or vertical pipes of gateposts – usually about 1,5 to 5m above ground.
It usually lays three greenish-blue speckled eggs.
The young are nestlings for 19 to 20 days and are fed by both parents and young birds from the past one to three years.
The bird’s Zulu name is iKwezi.
