- Lamprotornis albicapillus
Spreo albicapillus
Identification
23 - 27cm. A large starling with a distinctive plumage pattern.
- White crown
- Dull grey lores and ear-coverts
- Bronzy green nape and upperparts with some gloss
- Glossy bronze-green wings with white band
- Dull grey chin, throat, breast and flanks with white streaks
- White belly, thighs and undertail-coverts
- Yellowish-white eye
- Black bill and legs
Sexes similar. Juveniles have a grey-white crown, indistinctive streaks on underparts, a yellow bill and brown legs.
Distribution
Found in southern Ethiopia, northern Kenya and northern and western Sudan.
Locally common.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species which is sometimes placed in genus Spreo.
The described form horrensis is not yet accepted by most authorities.
Habitat
Thornveld, acacia woodland and open cattle pastures near cultivated land and settlements. Occurs up to 1500m.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects, fruit and seeds.
Forages in groups on the ground. Often associated with White-headed Buffalo-Weaver and Stresemann's Bushcrow.
Breeds between March and June. Nests in loose colonies, probably co-operative. The nest is a grass ball placed 1 - 5m above the ground in a thorn bush. Lays 4 - 6 eggs. Brood parasitsm by Great Spotted Cuckoo reported.
Presumably a resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-crowned Starling. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-crowned_Starling
