Red-winged Starling

Afrikaans name: Rooivlerkspreeu

Above - Female Red-winged Starling

Photo © Steven Herbert

Onychognathus morio

The Red-winged Starling is quite large for a starling. They have a length approaching 30 cm with both sexes being a similar size.

Both male and female have the brownish-red wings which are only easily visible in flight. The male is a glossy black colour while the female is greyish on her head and neck.

These birds favour rocky mountains and hills but are also becoming more and more common in our cities and towns. High-rise buildings seem to provide a good enough habitat to make these birds feel at home.

Red-wing Starlings eat a variety of food including fruit, small reptiles and insects.

Outside of the breeding season the Red-winged Starlings may be found in flocks numbering a few hundred birds, although smaller flocks are encountered more regularly. During the breeding season they tend to be seen in pairs.

Despite favouring rocky areas they don’t always make their nests amongst rocks. They may also build their nests amongst vegetation or roots. Up to 4 eggs are laid and these are incubated by the female. The male assists with feeding the chicks.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	745	Amydrus morio morio
2nd	745	Onychognathus morio
3rd	745	Onychognathus morio
4th	745	Onychognathus morio
5th	769	Onychognathus morio
6th	769	Onychognathus morio
7th	797	Onychognathus morio

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	745	Red-winged Starling
2nd	745	Red-winged Starling
3rd	745	Red-winged Starling
4th	745	Red-winged Starling
5th	769	Redwinged Starling
6th	769	Redwinged Starling
7th	797	Red-winged Starling

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	745	Rooivlerk-spreeu
2nd	745	Rooivlerk-spreeu
3rd	745	Rooivlerk-spreeu
4th	745	Rooivlerk-spreeu
5th	769	Rooivlerkspreeu
6th	769	Rooivlerkspreeu
7th	797	Rooivlerkspreeu

References and further reading

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 62

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 58

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 176

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 66

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 99

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 122

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 42

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 316

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 675

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 368

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 402

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 677

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 530

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 518

Newman s Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 100

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 302

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 400

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 382

Know your Garden Birds - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 32

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 101

More Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 44

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 382

Geoff Lockwood s Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 35

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 288

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 413

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 122

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 187

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 186

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 196

Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 80

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 74

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 66

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 203

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 111

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 242

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 104

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 43

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 108

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 200

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 608

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 258

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 43

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 278

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds