Starling (Royal)

The Royal Starling, aka Gold Breasted is distributed to the grassland, savanna and shrub land of East Africa. This Starling is a social animal, living in groups of three to twelve individuals.

 

Its diet consists mainly of insects and termites. Adult birds catch insects in flight and dig up termite mounds to find prey. The Royal Starling molts once a year, after the breeding season.

 

The female usually will lay between three to five pale green eggs with red speckles. It nests in tree holes. The nest is made from leaves, roots and other vegetation matters. Entire family groups cooperate in raising young by gathering food and nesting materials.

Photographed at Bird Kingdom, Niagara Falls, ON