Superb Starlings for Sale

(Spreo superbus)

Superb Starling birds are small birds who mainly dwell in woodland areas in Northeast Africa, specifically Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and The Sudan. They can also be found in close proximity to humans in cities. It's distinctive characteristics include metallic green and blue plumage on its chest, back, and wings and a chestnut colored belly separated from the rest of its colors by a stripe of white. White can also be found under its wing and tail base. Superb Starling's eyes are pale yellow. Both sexes look alike, but young Superb Starlings are duller than the mature adults.

Superb Starling Diet

Superb Starlings feed mainly on various kinds of insects, but will also feed on berries, fruit, and nectar when available. Because of its comfort with tourists and locals, the species is not shy to hang around the skirt of a picnic area or around lodging where they will beg for scraps.

Behavior in the Wild

The small bird is typically found communing in large flocks. Besides breeding season, they will gather in roosts of anywhere from ten to thousands of birds to sleep. Within breeding season, they also stick together. Although a monogamous species, they've been known to take advantage of “cooperative breeding”. They live in groups of breeders and designated helpers to feed and raise the young. Courtship displays include running along the ground and performing jumps with wings dropping and head stretched out. The female reciprocates in her own way, by leaning forward with her tail raised and fluttering and with dropped wings. If successful, both birds will cock their tails and display their white underparts.

Shama Breeding

Superb Starling nests are quite large and are dome structured with a side entrance. It's made of twigs and lined with grass and feathers. It's placed strategically between 1 and 6 meters above ground to keep it protected from potential predators. Superb Starlings take their survival one step further by placing them in thorny trees. They might also take advantage of opportunistic sites such as in holes of a tree, in cliff ledges, or in nests abandoned by other species.

Once a proper home is created, the female will lay 4 dark blue eggs and she incubates them by herself for up to 2 weeks. As aforementioned, the young are fed by both parent birds and designated helpers, usually offspring from the male's previous brood. The young Superb Starling will fledge the nest sometime after 2 weeks to a month after hatching, but depend on their family and helpers to provide food for up to 7 weeks.

One threat you don't commonly hear of with bird species is the threat of parasitization of the nest. The Great Spotted Cuckoo of Kenya is one threat the Superb Starling could suffer from.

In Captivity

Superb Starlings are known to live up to 10 years in captivity and have specific requirements like any other pet. They are best kept as aviary birds rather than human companions and are very active. It's recommended to place material strategically below their perches as they are considered relatively messy to keep. Breeding may be a challenge and although the bird can be kept with other species, will breed more successfully if only housed with one of its own kind. The bird also has a threat in captivity, the Gapeworm infection. The Gapeworm infection's symptoms include breathing with their mouths open. Transmission is caused by feeding them infected sources of live food, such as snails from the garden.

Endangerment Status

Superb Starlings are listed as of least concern on the endangered list, which is of no surprise based on the bird's ability to protect itself by traveling in flocks, cooperatively breeding, and taking advantage of human-provided food sources.