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.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Cape Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) [XC724506]
by Marc Anderson from Florisbad Quarternary Research Station, patch with karroid shrubs and thorn trees, Soutpan, Free State, South Africa (alarm call)
Cape Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) [XC589256]
by Lynette Rudman from City of Matlosana (near Klerksdorp), Southern DC, North West, 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.