Pied Starling

Afrikaans name: Witgatspreeu

Photo © Steven Herbert

Spreo bicolor

The Pied Starling is endemic to South Africa and can be seen over large parts of the country. It is not found in the northern and eastern parts of South Africa.

These Starlings are not found in towns. They prefer areas with long grass and can often be seen on the verges of country roads. Pied Starlings are normally seen in small flocks.

Pied Starlings spend most of their time on the ground looking for insects which form the bulk of their diet. They also eat some fruit, nectar and seeds.

They normally nest in colonies which may range from just a few pairs to many thousands. Each breeding pair is assisted by younger or non-breeding pairs. The female lays between 2 and 6 eggs and she incubates them. Once the chicks hatch both adults, and their helpers, feed the chicks.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	746	Spreo bicolor
2nd	746	Spreo bicolor
3rd	746	Spreo bicolor
4th	746	Spreo bicolor
5th	759	Spreo bicolor
6th	759	Spreo bicolor
7th	806	Lamprotornis bicolor

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	746	Pied Starling
2nd	746	Pied Starling
3rd	746	Pied Starling
4th	746	Pied Starling
5th	759	Pied Starling
6th	759	Pied Starling
7th	806	Pied Starling

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	746	Witgat-spreeu
2nd	746	Witgat-spreeu
3rd	746	Witgat-spreeu
4th	746	Witgat-spreeu
5th	759	Witgatspreeu
6th	759	Witgatspreeu
7th	806	Witgatspreeu

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

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

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

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 133

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 43

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 370

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 668

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 666

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

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 531

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 306

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 401

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

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

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

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 290

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 36

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

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 188

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 123

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

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 238

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

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 102

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

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

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 279

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

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

BirdLife South Africa

---

Top

List of South African Birds