Burchell's starling

Burchell's starling (Lamprotornis australis) or Burchell's glossy-starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. The monogamous and presumably sedentary^[4] species is native to dry and mesic woodlands and savannah of southern Africa. The name of this bird commemorates the English naturalist William John Burchell.^[5]

Burchell's starling
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Sturnidae
Genus:	Lamprotornis
Species:	L. australis
Binomial name
Lamprotornis australis (Smith, 1836) [2] [3]
low density range   high density range
Synonyms
Megalopterus australis A.Smith, 1836 (protonym) [4]

Range and habitat

This species is found in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is absent from miombo woodland,^[4] but is present in westerly gusu woodlands.

Habits and food

In the Kalahari they associate with camelthorn trees and also feed on their flowers. Their food includes flowers, fruit and small animals.^[4] They breed during the summer months.

Status and numbers

The species is not threatened and is locally common in conservation areas.^[4]