Asian Glossy Starling

Overview

The Asian glossy starling (Aplonis panayensis) is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is a small to medium-sized bird known for its glossy black plumage and presence in various tropical and subtropical environments across Asia.

Identification

• 20 cm long and weighs between 50–60 g.
• Adults have glossy black plumage, while juveniles are blackish-brown above and whitish heavily streaked with dark brown below.
• Adult irises are typically bright red, except for the A. p. albiris subspecies which has white eyes; juveniles have yellow, orange, or pink irises.
• Subspecies vary in the extent and intensity of the plumage gloss, as well as in bill size.

Habitat

Found in Bangladesh, Brunei, northeastern India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, and Thailand, with an introduction to Taiwan. Its natural habitats include subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and mangrove forests. It also frequently inhabits towns and cities, often taking refuge in abandoned buildings and trees.

Did you know?

This species is considered one of the noisiest bird species and often moves in large groups.