Bird of the week: Black-bellied starling
They have a fast direct flight with loud swishing wing beats.
A very common resident that is confined to the extreme eastern parts of Africa, from Knysna northwards in KZN to East Africa occurring in coastal towns, forest and dense woodland.
These are the dullest of all glossy starlings appearing black from a distance.
Nomadic when not breeding and can occur in flocks of 20 to 30 birds. They forage mainly in canopy of trees for fruit, also insects and flowers.
Usually shy and hard to approach. They have a fast direct flight with loud swishing wing beats.
Highly vocal at all times, the flocks are very noisy. The song is a sustained jumble of trilling sounds and rather harsh piping notes and imitates other bird calls.
Breeding season is August to December in KZN. The nest is a pad of hair, grass and feathers in a natural hole of a tree fairly high above the ground. Two to four spotted pale greenish eggs are laid. Incubation and nestling periods are unrecorded.
The Zulu name is iKhwinsi and in Afrikaans die swartpensglansspreeu.
