The greater blue-eared glossy starling grows to be about 8 inches long and 60 grams with both sexes appearing similar.

As its name suggests, this starling is covered in bright glossy feathers; blue-green feathers on their back and purple-blue feathers on their belly. A duller coloring means it’s a juvenile greater blue-eared glossy starling.

Besides the characteristic blue ear patch, greater blue-eared glossy starlings have bright yellow to orange eyes.

Starlings and medium-to-small sized perching birds that inhabit Asia, Africa, and Europe. As such, the greater blue-eared glossy starling is found throughout Africa. These birds gather in huge flocks in areas with open woodlands, reed beds, or thorn bushes. With very little seasonal movements, greater blue-eared glossy starlings usually stay in one place.

Similar to other starlings, the greater blue-eared glossy starling is an omnivore. Besides seeds, berries, and figs, their diet is mainly insects or small reptiles from the ground. On some occasions, this starling will perch on grazing animals and eat insects like ticks and fleas off them. While on the ground, greater blue-eared glossy starlings prefer to walk instead of hop while looking for food.

The greater blue-eared glossy starling nests in the old nesting holes of other birds like woodpeckers, storks, barbets, and more. After mating, the female will have 3-5 spotted greenish-blue eggs. After 2 weeks, the eggs will hatch. Even though the chicks are ready to leave the nest after 23 days, they’ll follow their parents around for a bit to find the good foraging spots.

The differences between the lesser and greater blue-eared glossy starling is that the lesser’s blue coloring of their belly does not extend to the legs, and they are smaller with narrower faces.

Like most starlings, the greater blue-eared glossy starling prefers to stay in large flocks that can include other starling breeds.

Greater blue-eared glossy starlings from the south tend to be smaller than those from the north.