Fischer's starling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fischer's starling |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Sturnidae |
| Genus: | Lamprotornis |
| Species: |
L. fischeri
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| Binomial name | |
| Lamprotornis fischeri (Reichenow, 1884)
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| native range | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Spreo fischeri |
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Fischer's starling (Lamprotornis fischeri) is a beautiful bird found in parts of Africa. It lives in dry, open areas with acacia thorn bushes. You can find these birds in southern Ethiopia, Somalia, eastern Kenya, and Tanzania. This bird is named after Gustav Fischer, a German explorer.
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What Does Fischer's Starling Look Like?
An adult Fischer's starling is about 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. It weighs around 51 grams (1.8 ounces). Most of its feathers, called its plumage, are a dull ash-grey color. However, its lower chest, belly, and the feathers under its tail are white.
This bird has a white eye, which is called an iris. Its beak, or bill, is dark. Male and female starlings look very similar. Young starlings, called juveniles, have browner feathers. Their eyes are brown, and the lower part of their beak is a dull yellow. There are no different types or subspecies of Fischer's starling.
Fischer's starlings make several different sounds. Their most common call sounds like a wheezing cree-wee-creewoo. They also have a loud whistle and a song that sounds metallic.
How Fischer's Starlings Live
Reproduction and Nests
Fischer's starlings usually build their nests in thorn trees. These nests are typically about 2.5 meters (8 feet) above the ground. The nest is shaped like a roofed house and is made from grasses. Inside, it is lined with soft feathers. It has a small ramp and an opening on its side for the birds to enter.
Female starlings lay up to six eggs at a time. These eggs are blue with red spots. They usually lay eggs in April to May and again in September to November. Both parent birds help feed their chicks. Sometimes, other birds, like young adults or those without a mate, also help feed the baby starlings.
What Fischer's Starlings Eat
Like many other starlings, Fischer's starlings are omnivores. This means they eat both plants and animals. They sometimes eat fruit and berries. However, their main diet is insects, which they find on the ground.
Fischer's starlings usually look for food alone or in pairs. But sometimes, they will join larger groups. They might even form mixed flocks with other birds, like wattled starlings, to find food together.
 | Bayard Rustin |
 | Jeannette Carter |
 | Jeremiah A. Brown |
