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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Sturnidae
  4. ›
  5. Aplonis
  6. ›
  7. Metallic Starling
Metallic Starling
Photo · (c) Mark Clarke, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Metallic Starling

Aplonis metallica(Temminck, 1824)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Sturnidae
Genus
Aplonis

At a glance

The Metallic Starling is a medium-sized bird, about 22–26 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
22–26 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Metallic Starling look like?

The Metallic Starling is a medium-sized bird, about 22–26 cm long and weighing 48–67 g.

The metallic starling, also known as the shining starling, is a bird in the starling family native to the Moluccas, New Guinea, Queensland and the Solomon Islands.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
22–26 cm
Weight
48–67 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Metallic Starling?

The Metallic Starling is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Tim · Mount Rooper QLD 4802, Australia

Call

Caleb Catto · Jack Fossey Park, Innisfail, QLD, AU

Call

James K. Douch · Botanic Gardens Restaurant & Cafe, Edge Hill, QLD, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Metallic Starling eat?

The Metallic Starling feeds on fruit, usually foraging in flocks.

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Metallic Starling live in Australia?

The Metallic Starling is native to Australia, recorded across 8 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingMoluccas, New Guinea and satellites to north-east Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Passage
  • Vagrant
  • Resident

6 regions recorded