Adult has bright red eye, young birds dark-eyed.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyDrongos
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
Habitatclosed forest, open woodland, sparse woodland, grassland, and waterbodies
Best timeReported across most months in Queensland, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
2665visible hotspots
189601visible records
5states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Plumage shows metallic iridescence in optimal light. Metallic Starling has finer bill, tapered tail. Inhabits great variety of habitats, where it chases insects mercilessly.
Behavior
Perches prominently, delivering harsh, squawking calls, often mimicking other species such as butcherbirds and kingfishers.
Gallery
Regional timing
New South Wales
Queensland
Northern Territory
Victoria
Western Australia
Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory