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 →
Closest Relatives at Selous Game Reserve
Violet-backed Starling
Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Greater Blue-eared Starling
Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis chloropterus
Red-winged Starling
Onychognathus morio
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
Tropical Boubou
Laniarius major
Purple-banded Sunbird
Cinnyris bifasciatus
African Golden-Weaver
Ploceus subaureus
Green-backed Camaroptera
Camaroptera brachyura
African Pied Wagtail
Motacilla aguimp
Collared Sunbird
Hedydipna collaris
Wire-tailed Swallow
Hirundo smithii
📅 Monthly Probability
Fewer than 5 records of Wattled Starling at Selous Game Reserve — not enough to chart months honestly.
☀️ 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