Vagrant to Congo [The Democratic Republic of the].
From around mouth of R Congo south through western and southern Angola to south-western Zambia and Zimbabwe, south to Namibia, Botswana, South Africa (except southern and south-western Cape region and dry western interior), western lowlands of Lesotho, Swaziland and southern Mozambique.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Cape Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) [XC280370]
by Lynette Rudman from Polokwane Game Reserve, Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa (call)
Cape Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) [XC640722]
by Marc Anderson from Sunday's River Valley Local Municipality (near Nanaga), Western District, Eastern Cape, South Africa (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Birds from Namibia east to Zimbabwe and north-eastern South Africa often separated as subspecies phoenicopterus and those from eastern South Africa as culminator on basis of size and colour (larger and greener). However, geographical variation appears clinal, with intergradation between adjoining populations throughout species' range.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet