masaistær Lamprotornis hildebrandti

A beautiful starling of savanna country. The upperparts are iridescent, with a purple sheen on the head and green on most of the wing. Also note the orange underparts and eye. Found in moderately moist savanna and woodland, often in small flocks, sometimes with other species of starlings. Similar to Superb Starling, but doesn’t have a white chest band, underwing patch, or vent, and the eye is orange rather than whitish. Also similar to Shelley’s Starling, but slightly larger and paler overall, with a paler rufous belly and a more contrasting green wing. The common call is a raspy “cherrcherrcherr” that is incorporated into the rambling song.