Violet Backed Starling: Identification, Habitat, and Where to Find Them

You're driving through the mopane woodlands of southern Africa, the dry air humming with insects. Then you see it—a sudden, impossible burst of color against the dusty green. Not a flower, but a bird. A male violet backed starling, perched like a living jewel, its plumage shifting from deep royal purple to an electric violet in the sun. It's a sight that stops first-time birders in their tracks, and after fifteen years of leading tours from the Serengeti to the Okavango, I still catch my breath every single time.

This isn't just another pretty bird. The violet backed starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) is a masterclass in adaptation and a key indicator of a healthy African ecosystem. But here's the thing most generic articles miss: its beauty is a brilliant decoy. We get so fixated on the male's color that we often overlook the far more intriguing survival strategies of the entire species, especially the subtly camouflaged females.

How to Spot a Violet Backed Starling (And Common Mistakes)

Let's cut to the chase. The male is unmistakable. Head, back, and chest are a solid, shimmering violet-purple. The belly is pure, stark white. It looks like someone dipped the top half of the bird in metallic paint. They're about 18 cm long—think robin-sized. The female and juveniles, however, are where most beginners get tripped up.

Females are brown. Not just any brown, but a streaky, sparrow-like brown with a white belly. I've lost count of the times someone on a tour has pointed at a female and asked, "What's that little brown job?" only to be stunned it's the same species. This sexual dimorphism is extreme, and it's crucial for their survival—the flashy male draws attention away from the nesting female.

The biggest error I see? Confusing them with other glossy starlings. The greater blue-eared starling has a dark belly, not white. The cape starling is bigger and has a dark eye. Get the belly color and size locked in your mind first.

Where They Live: Habitat and Home Range

This bird is a creature of the African savanna and woodland, but with very specific tastes. They avoid deep, closed-canopy rainforest and open, treeless grassland. Their sweet spot is in between.

• Primary Habitat: Open woodland, riverine forests (trees along rivers), and savanna dotted with tall trees like acacias and mopane.
• Key Requirement: Tall trees for nesting and perching, combined with open spaces for foraging. They love edges and mosaics.
• Elevation: Generally below 2000 meters, though they can be found in highland areas with suitable woodland.

Their range is a broad swath across sub-Saharan Africa. According to data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, they are found from Senegal and Gambia in the west, across to Ethiopia and Somalia in the east, and down through East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania) to southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, northeastern South Africa, Mozambique). They are largely absent from the Congo Basin's dense rainforest and the arid horn of Africa.

They are not considered globally threatened and are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, which is good news for birders. Their population is generally stable because they adapt reasonably well to some human-altered landscapes, like large gardens and plantations with tall trees.

The Best Places to See Them in the Wild

You can't just go anywhere in Africa and expect a violet backed starling. Location and timing are everything. Based on my repeated visits, here are the spots where your odds are highest.

East Africa is arguably the most reliable region. In Kenya, the Masaai Mara National Reserve isn't just for the Great Migration. The acacia woodlands along the Talek and Mara Rivers are starling hotspots, especially around lodges like Governors' Camp. In Tanzania, Tarangire National Park is phenomenal. The ancient baobabs and acacia woodlands are perfect for them. I've had my best photographic sessions on the Silale Swamp circuit.

Southern Africa offers fantastic viewing too. Northern Botswana—specifically the Chobe Riverfront and the Okavango Delta's Moremi Game Reserve. They are common in the riparian forests along the Chobe River. In South Africa, head to Kruger National Park. The southern and central regions (around Skukuza, Lower Sabie) with their riverine forests are excellent. Don't bother looking in the arid southwest of the country.

Timing your trip during the dry season (generally May to October in Southern Africa, June to October in East Africa) is best. Foliage is thinner, birds congregate around permanent water, and they are more active and visible.

Behavior, Diet, and Breeding Secrets

This is where the violet backed starling gets really interesting. They are primarily frugivores, meaning fruit-eaters. Figs are a major part of their diet, along with other wild fruits and berries. But they also hawk insects in flight—a behavior called flycatching—which is incredible to watch. They'll perch high on a dead branch, spot a flying termite or beetle, and swoop out in a graceful arc to snatch it.

They often forage in small groups or mixed-species flocks. You might see them with other starlings or bulbuls in a fruiting tree. This "safety in numbers" strategy helps them watch for predators.

The Breeding Puzzle: Cavity Nesters

Their breeding strategy is a critical vulnerability. They are obligate cavity nesters. They cannot build a nest in a fork of a tree; they must find a natural hole in a tree (or an old woodpecker hole) to lay their eggs. This single fact dictates so much of their life.

This is why tall, mature trees are non-negotiable. No old trees with holes, no violet backed starlings. It's also why they sometimes use nest boxes in gardens on the edge of their range. The female does almost all the nest-building (lining the hole with leaves and grass) and incubates the 2-4 pale blue eggs for about two weeks. The male feeds her during this time.

I once observed a pair in Tarangire using a cavity in a massive, dead acacia. The male would bring figs every 20 minutes like clockwork. The female was virtually invisible unless you knew the exact hole. That's their secret: the female's dull plumage makes her disappear at the nest entrance.

Photography Tips for Capturing That Iridescence

Photographing that violet sheen is tricky. It's not a pigment; it's structural coloration. The feathers have microscopic structures that refract light, like a prism. Get the light wrong, and you get a dull black bird.

• Light Angle is God: You need the sun behind you, shining directly on the bird. Side light can be nice for texture, but front light makes the color pop. Overcast days are a disaster for capturing iridescence—the colors go flat.
• Expose for the Purple: Your camera's meter will be fooled by the bright white belly. It will try to darken the whole scene, making the purple underwhelming. Use a bit of positive exposure compensation (+0.7 to +1.3 EV). Check your histogram.
• Background Matters: A clean, green or blue background makes the bird stand out. A cluttered, bright background will steal the show.
• Patience with Perches: They love dead, exposed branches. Scout a nice perch near a fruiting tree and wait. They'll often return to favored lookout points.

My go-to setup is a 500mm lens on a crop-sensor body, which gives me enough reach without being too heavy for a full day in the vehicle. Aperture priority mode, with an eye on my shutter speed (1/1000s minimum for flycatching shots).