Cape Glossy Starling

Afrikaans name: Kleinglansspreeu

Cape Glossy Starling

Photo © Steven Herbert

Lamprotornis nitens

The Cape Glossy Starling goes by a few names including Glossy Starling and Red-shouldered Glossy Starling.

This species can be found across most of South Africa apart from the Western Cape.

Like other 'glossy' starlings its colouring is variable depending on the light. At times it can look almost black and in other light a brilliantly glossy blue-green.

It's main habitat preferences are thornveld, woodland and gardens.

The diet of the Cape Glossy Starling is quite varied. It will eat insects, fruit and nectar.

They nest in holes in trees and river banks. The breeding pair is assisted by others in the flock.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	737	Lamprocolius nitens phoenicopterus
2nd	737	Lamprocolius nitens
3rd	737	Lamprocolius nitens
4th	737	Lamprotornis nitens
5th	764	Lamprotornis nitens
6th	764	Lamprotornis nitens
7th	799	Lamprotornis nitens

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	737	Cape Glossy Starling
2nd	737	Cape Glossy Starling
3rd	737	Cape Glossy Starling
4th	737	Cape Glossy Starling
5th	764	Glossy Starling
6th	764	Glossy Starling
7th	799	Cape Glossy Starling

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	737	Klein-glansspreeu
2nd	737	Klein Glansspreeu
3rd	737	Klein Glansspreeu
4th	737	Klein Glansspreeu
5th	764	Kleinglansspreeu
6th	764	Kleinglansspreeu
7th	799	Kleinglansspreeu

References and further reading

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

Wild Issue 39 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 74

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

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 77

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 194

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 313

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

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 366

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 400

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 671

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 673

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 397

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 511

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 523

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 304

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 27

Newman s Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 98

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 386

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 100

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 386

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

Know your Garden Birds - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 30

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 286

Geoff Lockwood s Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 41

Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 28

Gardening with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1988 - Page: 57

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 121

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

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 240

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

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 194

Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 69

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

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 103

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 198

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 600

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 107

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 257

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 44

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 44

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 277

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List of South African Birds