Highland forest in south-central Kenya (east of Rift Valley) and north-eastern Tanzania.
 
Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Forest loss and degradation by logging and conversion to agriculture are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
Call is musical, whistled, up and down scale. Song is short and high-pitched.
Abbott's Starling (Poeoptera femoralis) [XC289782]
by Frank Lambert from Gatwamba Forest, Kenya (call, song)
Abbott's Starling (Poeoptera femoralis) [XC450568]
by Charles Davies from Arusha National Park, road above Fig Tree, Arusha Region, Tanzania (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Has been suggested to form a superspecies with Sharpe's Starling (Pholia sharpii).
Similar Species
Magpie Starling (Speculipastor bicolor) which has obvious white wing-patches and occurs in much drier woodland.
References
See References.