SOUTHERN RED-WINGED STARLING (ENG), ROOIVLERKSPREEU (AFR.)

The Southern Red-winged Starling, known as the Onychognathus Morio ssp. Morio, is a subspecies of the red-winged starling found from Ethiopia to the Cape. Both male and female birds have shiny black feathers, with the female having a dark grey head. During flight, rufous feathers are visible on the edges of their wings, a beautiful sight to behold.

These birds nest on cliffs and mountainous areas, but have moved into Rooiels and other urban centres where they breed in roofs and under house eaves, finding these suburban structures similar to cliffs in the mountain.

Feeding

They are omnivorous and in Rooiels feed on berries such as taaibos, Cape plum and kersiehout. They pluck flowers of the beach sage, feed on the nectar of aloes and raid your dog's food bowl.

They peck crumbs intended for seed-eaters and feast on apples and grapes (before the baboons get there). They may take nestlings out of the nests while distraught parents look on, or snack on some agama babies in your garden.

They love the braaivleis fat left on your plate and would peck at cheese if allowed in the kitchen.

IRed-winged starlings are opportunistic feeders. They would even hitch a ride on klipspringer's back to take insects or ticks, much in the manner of ox-peckers on cattle.

Just when you think you have heard it all – the red-winged starlings eat carrion and when the North-Wester blows and washes kelp out on the beach, you will find them hopping amongst the smelly redbait, looking for what they regard as tasty morsels.

Breeding

During the breeding season, these birds become aggressive and intolerant, attacking pets and even humans. They use twigs and grass for their nest, with a mud base. In Rooiels, they have been observed lining their nest with fresh sea-spinach collected on the rocks, which binds with the dry twigs when it dries.

They are quite ingenious. Red-winged starlings also came into our lounge and deftly clipped the fringes of our rugs for their nest.

In the video clip you will see mama starling picking hairs off the klipspringer’s coat for her nest.

The female lays two to four blue eggs that are spotted with red-brown. The eggs incubate for 13-14 days and are then fed by their parents for another 3-4 weeks before fledging. You will hear the impatient check-cheek-cheek call of the young ones.

These starlings are commonly double-brooded and in Rooiels are sometimes parasitized by Klaas's Cuckoo.

Predators

These birds are preyed upon by other birds. In Rooiels we have witnessed them bravely defending their nests against such as Verreaux's eagles, rock kestrels, jackal buzzards and African spotted eagle-owls.

The baboons may also steal their eggs or chicks from the nest and snakes like the egg eater and the boomslang could make a house call. Domestic cats prey upon the fledglings.

Sound

When not breeding, red-winged starlings are highly gregarious and can be seen in large flocks in Rooiels. They are also known for sitting on roofs or balconies, and their friendly cheerioo, cheerioo can be heard, sometimes followed by a tip-tip on the roof, as they regurgitate the pips they had swallowed.

How can you not like a bird like this?

OK, so some people can’t stand the red-winged starlings. They mess on your stoep, especially after visiting your neighbour’s manatoka trees. But they are intelligent, adorable and mate for life and they have the sweetest songs.

Rather than fighting with the Southern red-winged starling, it's better to fight with the neighbours to get rid of the alien and invasive manatokas that attract flocks of these birds to feed on the purple berries.

Photo's Graham McCleland. Video: Fiona Christelis. Video editing and sound: Graham McCleland. Text: Dine van Zyl