Wattled Starling
Creatophora cinerea
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilySturnidae (Starlings)
- GenusCreatophora
- SpeciesCreatophora cinerea (Wattled Starling)
The wattled starling (Creatophora cinerea) is a nomadic resident bird in eastern and southern Africa. It is a species of grassland, open woodland, and cultivation. This is the only African starling that appears to show affinities with the Asian starlings, particularly the genus Sturnus. Its bare face patches and ability to open-bill feed in grassland are unique amongst African starlings. It is the only member of the genus Creatophora. This common species appears to be extending its range into West Africa and has also occurred in Arabia, Madagascar, and Seychelles. Wikipedia →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Wattled Starling sighting in Lower Zambezi National Park, based on 39 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Lower Zambezi National Park
Meves's Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis mevesii
Red-winged Starling
Onychognathus morio
Violet-backed Starling
Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Greater Blue-eared Starling
Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
African Pied Wagtail
Motacilla aguimp
Wire-tailed Swallow
Hirundo smithii
Blue-breasted Cordonbleu
Uraeginthus angolensis
Tropical Boubou
Laniarius major
White-crested Helmetshrike
Prionops plumatus
Red-billed Oxpecker
Buphagus erythrorhynchus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Wattled Starling in Lower Zambezi National Park?
About 17% of wildlife watchers report a Wattled Starling sighting in Lower Zambezi National Park, based on 39 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Wattled Starling in Lower Zambezi National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Wattled Starling in Lower Zambezi National Park in our monthly data.