Scientific name: Lamprotornis elisabeth
The lesser and greater blue-eared starling are similar and can easily be misidentified. They are glossy blue-green with a purple-blue belly and blue ear patch. Its iris is bright yellow or orange. In the lesser blue-eared starling the blue of the belly does not extend forward of the legs.The sexes are similar, but the juvenile is duller and has blackish brown underparts.
Here it is locally common in Zimbabwe and north-central Mozambique, marginally extending into the Caprivi Strip, Namibia. It generally prefers miombo (Brachystegia) woodland in the breeding season, however in it may move into savanna woodland at other times in the year.
It mainly forages on the ground, eating fruit, nectar and insects, especially grasshoppers (Orthoptera), beetles (Coleoptera) and termites.
