Wattled starling

Introduction: Wattled starlings (Creatophora cinerea) are at home mostly in short grass areas, as well as lightly wooded, open, or cultivated areas and lands. Reedbeds and trees are favoured roosting sites, always in groups, often in very large flocks.

Distribution: Throughout, but with irregular patches in most of the country. Absent from southern Namib Desert, most common in central Namibia and northern ranges.
Diet: Pecks and probes on the ground for weevils, seeds and fruits.

Description: A medium-sized, terrestrial starling with slender bill. Bare yellow skin behind eyes. Distinctive, black, swinging wattles on the head and throat. Mainly grey (Cinerea) brown plumage. Creatophora is Greek for 'to carry flesh' referring to the loose, fleshy wattles 'carried' by females during the breeding season. Song a long wheezy affair.
Breeding: Nests are often interlocked, at times up to 5 domed masses together with 5 separate chambers lined with feathers and grass. From 2 to 5 eggs are laid September to March.

Size: 21cm.

Weight: 68g.