Non-kin Reciprocal Cooperation in the Superb Starling

演化之聲
Mar 15
4 min read

Across the vast grasslands of central Kenya lives a strikingly colorful bird that has surprised scientists studying cooperation in animals. This species, the superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus), belongs to the order Passeriformes and is easily recognized by its metallic plumage that glints with iridescent color. Superb starlings are highly social birds that live in groups typically consisting of several dozen individuals, sometimes reaching as many as sixty. These groups are not simply extended families composed of close relatives. Instead, they form complex social communities in which related and unrelated individuals coexist. Over two decades of continuous field observations have revealed an intricate network of long-term cooperation among these birds, exposing subtle social interactions that are not immediately obvious.