
Cape Glossy Starling
The Cape starling, red-shouldered glossy-starling or Cape glossy starling (Lamprotornis nitens) is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae.
Species insights
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Curve from 4,495 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where Cape Glossy Starling is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
4,491 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cape Glossy Starling
Stays that give back
Across the Eastern Cape
Cape Glossy Starling recorded here
Cape Glossy Starling recorded here
Cape Glossy Starling recorded here
Cape Glossy Starling recorded here
Cape Glossy Starling recorded here
Cape Glossy Starling recorded here
Cape Glossy Starling recorded here
Cape Glossy Starling recorded here
Birder friendly
Birder friendly
Birder friendly
Birder friendly
Forests, lagoons, and Knysna's sheltered bay
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Cape Glossy Starling
Hosts have recorded the Cape Glossy Starling at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park, Camdeboo National Park and Mountain Zebra National Park.
Best hours of the day
- The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
- Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Lamprotornis nitens
Records
4,491
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cape Glossy Starling on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cape Glossy Starling in Eastern Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Glossy Starling at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park, Camdeboo National Park, Mountain Zebra National Park and Tsitsikamma National Park. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Cape Glossy Starling in South Africa?
The Cape Glossy Starling is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (23% of records), Mpumalanga (18% of records), Gauteng (16% of records), based on 4,491 iNaturalist observations. 8 places to stay on Spekboom in Eastern Cape have recorded the Cape Glossy Starling on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cape Glossy Starling?
The Cape Glossy Starling is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Addo Elephant National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Camdeboo National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Mountain Zebra National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Tsitsikamma National Park: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Cape Glossy Starling?
The Cape Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Cape Glossy Starling?
The Cape starling, red-shouldered glossy-starling or Cape glossy starling (Lamprotornis nitens) is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in southern Africa, where it lives in woodlands, bushveld and in suburbs.

























