What do Starlings eat? Diet and Range of Splendid Starlings
- Avian Lens
- Feb 17
- 3 min read
What is in this article?
What do Starlings Eat?
Starlings are striking, social birds found across much of the world, admired for their glossy feathers and lively behaviour. They are highly adaptable, inhabiting everything from urban areas to forests and savannas, and they play important roles in ecosystems by controlling insect populations and dispersing seeds.
Starlings are omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of foods. Their diet commonly includes insects such as
Beetles
Caterpillars
Grasshoppers
Ants
fruits like
Berries
Cherries
figs; seeds from grasses and weeds; and occasionally small invertebrates like snails or worms.
The exact composition of their diet varies with habitat, season, and food availability.
Distribution and Diet of the Splendid Starling
With its glossy, iridescent plumage that gleams in deep blues, greens, and purples, the Splendid Starling is one of Africa’s most eye-catching starlings. The upperparts are a shimmering mix of metallic blue and violet, contrasting with the clean, pale underparts and striking white eyes that give the species a bold and expressive look.
Across Africa, the Splendid Starling has a broad distribution, occurring from West Africa eastward through Central and East Africa and extending as far south as Angola and Zambia, according to eBird records, as you can see in the map above.
Common name: Splendid Starling
Scientific Name: Lamprotornis splendidus
Habitat Preference of the Splendid Starling
The Splendid Starling prefers open and semi-open habitats with trees, but the canopy is not closed. It is most commonly found in savanna woodlands, forest edges, riverine (gallery) forests, and lightly wooded grasslands. These environments provide a combination of perching sites, nesting cavities, and open ground for foraging.
Unlike strictly forest-dependent species, the Splendid Starling tends to avoid dense, continuous rainforest. Instead, it favours areas where sunlight reaches the ground and vegetation is more scattered. This structure supports its feeding behaviour, as the species frequently forages both on the ground for insects and in trees for fruits.
The species is also adaptable to human-modified landscapes, including farms, village outskirts, plantations, and urban parks, provided that mature trees remain available for roosting and nesting. Its tolerance of moderately disturbed habitats contributes to its widespread distribution across much of sub-Saharan Africa.
Distribution in Ghana
The Splendid Starling can be seen across the country, occurring in every region, as shown on the map above. Although some regions show fewer records in the eBird data, this likely reflects lower observer activity rather than the bird’s true absence. In fact, at least one record exists for every region, reinforcing just how widespread and adaptable this species is across Ghana.
Seasonal Presence in Ghana, West Africa
The Splendid Starling is a resident species in Ghana, meaning it does not undertake long-distance migration. However, its visibility and local abundance can vary throughout the year due to seasonal environmental changes.
Dry Season (October – March)
During the drier months:
Vegetation becomes less dense, making birds easier to detect.
Water sources become more limited, concentrating birds in specific areas.
Fruits and insects may become locally concentrated, attracting starlings to predictable feeding sites.
Field conditions are generally more accessible for observers.
As a result, Splendid Starlings may appear more conspicuous during this period.
Wet Season (May – September)
During the rainy season:
Vegetation becomes thicker and more lush, reducing visibility.
Food resources such as insects are often more widely dispersed.
Birds may spread out across broader areas.
Heavy rains can limit observer movement and recording effort.
These factors can make the species seem less abundant, even though it remains present.
What This Means Ecologically
The species is not migratory in Ghana.
Seasonal variation likely reflects local movements and changes in detectability, rather than population shifts.
The Splendid Starling shows flexibility in responding to rainfall-driven changes in habitat and food availability.
The data used for generating the maps and producing the graphs were sourced from
