Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Silhouette: Rafael Maia · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilySturnidae (Starlings)
GenusCreatophora
SpeciesCreatophora cinerea (Wattled Starling)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Pilanesberg National Park

2 Verified sightings at Pilanesberg National Park From 2019 to 2026

10,976 Verified sightings across all 47 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Wattled Starling

The wattled starling (Creatophora cinerea) is a nomadic resident bird in eastern and southern Africa. It is a species of grassland, open woodland, and cultivation. This is the only African starling that appears to show affinities with the Asian starlings, particularly the genus Sturnus. Its bare face patches and ability to open-bill feed in grassland are unique amongst African starlings. It is the only member of the genus Creatophora.

This common species appears to be extending its range into West Africa and has also occurred in Arabia, Madagascar, and Seychelles. The wattled starling is 21 cm long, with a short tail and pointed wings. It has mainly grey plumage except for a white rump, and black flight feathers and tail. The breeding male has a white shoulder patch and a distinctive head pattern, with unfeathered yellow skin, and black forehead and throat wattles. The extent to which these seasonal features develop increases with the age of the bird and some old females may show a weaker version of this plumage.

The non-breeding male has a feathered head except for a small yellow patch behind the eye. There are no wattles, but there is a black moustachial stripe... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Pilanesberg National Park

Lamprotornis nitens

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Onychognathus morio

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Lamprotornis australis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Lamprotornis bicolor

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Pycnonotus barbatus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Dicrurus adsimilis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Corvus albus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Ploceus velatus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Laniarius atrococcineus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Turdoides jardineii

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~40%
2	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
3	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~40%
4	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
5	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
6	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~30%
7	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
8	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
9	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
10	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
11	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~20%
12	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
13	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~20%
14	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
15	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
16	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
17	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	~10%
18	Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
19	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~10%
20	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
21	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~10%
22	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
23	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
24	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~10%
25	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
26	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
27	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~10%
28	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~10%
29	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
30	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~10%
31	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~10%
32	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
33	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	~10%
34	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	<5%
35	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	<5%
36	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
37	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
38	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	<5%
39	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
40	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
41	Golden Gate Highlands National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
42	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
43	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
44	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
45	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
46	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
47	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data

← Back to Pilanesberg National Park

Wattled Starling

About the Wattled Starling

Recent sightings of Wattled Starling in Pilanesberg National Park

Closest Relatives at Pilanesberg National Park

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

Red-winged Starling

Violet-backed Starling

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Burchell's Glossy-starling

Pied Starling

Common Bulbul

Fork-tailed Drongo

Pied Crow

Southern Masked Weaver

Crimson-breasted Gonolek

Arrow-marked Babbler

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found