Emerald Starling
Scientific Name
Class
Order
Range
Habitat
Estimated Wild Population
More Information
Physical Description
Emerald starlings were named for their vibrant colors—green, iridescent feathers on their crown, chest, and wings and purple markings on their belly and around their eyes. In the wild, these birds live in flocks of 15–20 members, although they occasionally gather to form larger groups. They build their nest in small holes in tree stumps and tree trunks.
Interesting Fact 1
Emerald starlings catch insects mid-flight and use their strong beak to probe for underground seeds.
Interesting Fact 2
Females possess a brood patch—a spot on their stomach without feathers—that helps them transfer body heat to their eggs.
Interesting Fact 3
They are likely threatened by the illegal wildlife trade and mining activities in parts of their range.
Species Survival Plan®
We cooperate with other members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to manage the zoo population of this species through a Species Survival Plan®.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
Support Your Zoo
Animals Depend On People Too
When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.
Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
Take Action With Us
Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
