Uploaded March 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The Shining starling is Australia's only representative of a wider family of Starlings that span across Asia and Africa. The alternative name is Metalic Starling. The Adult birds have an amazing iridescent plumage whilst the juveniles ( as shown in this clip ) are more subdued with striations on the breast and belly. They do share a common feature with the adults having a bright Red eye. These are a colonial nesting species with some host trees holding hundreds of nests. It is quite a noisy spectacle to see so many birds in one tree. One is not advised to stand under these host trees for too long as the nests are also a host to mites. The Range within Australia is Queensland's Cape and Wet Tropics. I filmed these in Mossman Far North Queensland. Tim Siggs / ABVC.
The Shining starling is Australia's only representative of a wider family of Starlings that span across Asia and Africa. The alternative name is Metalic Starling. The Adult birds have an amazing iridescent plumage whilst the juveniles ( as shown in this clip ) are more subdued with striations on the breast and belly. They do share a common feature with the adults having a bright Red eye. These are a colonial nesting species with some host trees holding hundreds of nests. It is quite a noisy spectacle to see so many birds in one tree. One is not advised to stand under these host trees for too long as the nests are also a host to mites. The Range within Australia is Queensland's Cape and Wet Tropics. I filmed these in Mossman Far North Queensland. Tim Siggs / ABVC.
