The Blue-eared Glossy Starling has two species, the Greater, Lamprotornis chalybaeus, above, and the Lesser, below. The Greater is native to much of sub-Saharan African, from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to southern Africa avoiding much of Central Africa and South Africa itself. It has 4 subspecies. Both species look similar in size and plumage. The extent of blue plumage on the under-belly is the determining feature between the two species.

The Lesser Blue-eared Glossy Starling, Lamprotornis chloropterus, above, is native to a large swathe of shrub, woodland and open savannah of sub-Saharan Africa from Gambia to Eritrea and southeast to Zimbabwe. It has two subspecies. Like most starlings it is an omnivore eating fruit and insects.

It looks similar to the Greater Blue-eared in size and plumage and has a similar range. The extent of blue plumage on the under-belly is said to be the determining feature between the two species. The taxonomic name chloropterus indicates greenish wings, although in both Greater and Lesser they can look blue in some lights. The tail is usually also blue-green but can look blue-purple; the lack of a purple head should usually distinguish both Blue-eareds from the similar Purple Glossy.