STARLINGS
Starlings are best known in the Park as noisy hordes of radiant purple birds so common in the southern parts. In fact, five species of these so- called glossy starlings are found, of which the Cape Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) is the most abundant and widespread. Burchell's Glossy Starling (L. australis) is also fairly common in the southern parts and is easily distinguished as it is larger than any of the other species and has a rather long, blunt-ended tail.
Numerous glossy starlings are usually seen at Tshokwane picnic site and in Satara camp, their loud harsh voices often creating a terrific din.
As well as these purple-plumage species, three others are found, but are rather localized in their distribution. With black bodies and deep red wing feathers, the Red-winged Starling (Onychognathus mono) is rare and only found in certain rocky environments.
The brownish Wattled Starling (Creatophora cinerea) is fairly common in open veld in the northern and central areas, while the very handsome Plum-coloured Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) is more common in the central and southern areas in summer.
Starlings feed on fruit and insects, although they happily scavenge left-over scraps of food in camps and picnic-sites. Most species nest in holes in trees, but the red-winged starlings prefer crevices in rocks or on rocky ledges. Wattled starlings build nests of sticks in thorny bushes, many hundreds often breeding together in the same small area.
