shazam
1. Bird Name
Shazam or more commonly referred to as the “Songburst Starling,” the scientific name for this bird is “Melodiam Sirenium.”
2. Appearance
The Shazam is a visually spectacular bird, possessing vibrant coloration that gives it a striking appearance. They bear an array of colors, ranging from deep midnight blues to bright golds and reds on their chest, which seem to glow during the sunshine. The bird’s beak is sharp and curved, ideal for its diet, which primarily comprises small insects. The eye color of a Shazam is usually a bright, translucent green. Male Shazams are slightly larger than females but also bear a feather crest on their heads, which can rise during mating displays.
3. Size
The Shazam averages around 20–25 centimeters in length but can attain a wingspan of nearly 35–40 cm. The weight typically ranges between 70-100 grams.
4. Habitat & Distribution
The Shazam is a native bird of the African continent, more specifically in the sub-Saharan region. You will mostly find them in open woodland areas, grasslands, and in the savannas. They have a particular preference for areas with a proliferation of termite mounds, which are their favorite prey.
5. Interesting Facts
Shazams have a unique habit of swooping onto termite mounds and “sing-battling” each other for territory, leading to the bird’s popular name. These encounters are non-violent and entirely based on vocal performance. Secondly, these birds have a remarkable cultural significance among local communities who believe that the Shazam bird brings good luck, and its singing announces the arrival of a prosperous period.
6. Diet
Shazams predominantly feed on insects, specifically termites and beetles. Seasonal fruits and occasionally small reptiles are also a part of their diet.
7. Behavior & Sounds
Shazam birds display an intricate song pattern, producing a wide variety of melodious sounds often mimicking other birds and sometimes even human voices. They have an impressively acrobatic flying pattern, flaunting their bright colours as they dart within the savannahs intrinsically, trying to outdo each other in aerial agility. The mating dates of Shazams often involve grand musical displays, with males showing off their elaborate vocal skills to woo potential mates.
8. Conservation Status
Currently, Shazam birds are not threatened and are designated as the least concern on the IUCN Red List. However, their habitat is vulnerable to climate change and human intervention, which might pose future threats.
9. Lifespan
In the wild, Shazams tend to live between 8 to 12 years, while in captivity, they can live up to 15 years owing to a more regulated diet and protection from predators.
10. Additional Notes
In local African dialects, Shazams are often known as “Lwazi,” meaning ‘the wise pathfinder’, due to their reputation for finding new sources of food and leading other birds to it. They have also been observed to have a mutualistic relationship with some mammals by providing cleaning services by picking and eating ticks off their bodies. This bird, with its evidence of intelligence and knack for survival, surely deserves its reputation for wisdom within African folk culture and beyond.
