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Odd molting starling (?) Chobe NP, Botswana July (1 Viewer)

masonflint

Active member
I photographed these birds in Chobe National Park in July within minutes of each other. The ID is probably easy for people more familiar with the birds of Botswana but I've tied myself in knots over this.

The evenly colored bird is probably a Greater Blue-eared Starling because of the clear dark eye stripe and yellow eye...right?

The other bird confuses me because of the limited iridescence and brownish feathers. Perhaps it is molting? Also, the tail appears to be quite short although that could be due to the angle of the photo.

I looked online extensively for photos of starlings in molt and found a couple of links to scholarly papers (pay only) but not much in terms of photos.

Would appreciate any information you have on this topic.
 

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On the first photo, you have a Southern/Miombo Blue-eared Starling (Lamprotornis elisabeth) in post-juvenile moult. The rufous underparts in juveniles is quite unique among glossy starlings. I guess the other photo shows an adult of the same species, but I mainly use the thin bill vs thick bill to identify from Greater Blue-eared, and here the angle makes it difficult.
 
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