Birdsong field guide
Chestnut-tailed Starling
Sturnia malabarica
A small, arboreal starling native to Southern Asia, distinguished by its silvery-gray upperparts and contrasting rufous-orange underparts and tail.
What it sounds like
A series of sharp, metallic whistles and rolling, liquid 'tri-ree-ree' notes.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- It is primarily arboreal and is rarely seen foraging on the ground, unlike many other starling species.
- The species is a prolific nectar feeder, often seen with its forehead covered in pollen from flowering trees like Erythrina and Salmalia.
- They are secondary cavity nesters, frequently utilizing abandoned holes made by woodpeckers or barbets in tall trees.
- While mostly resident, northern populations in the Himalayas exhibit seasonal altitudinal and latitudinal migration.
- The Malabar Starling (Sturnia blythii) was formerly considered a subspecies but is now recognized as a distinct species with white-headed plumage.
Habitat
Open deciduous forests, secondary growth, and the edges of cultivated land.
Range
Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, ranging from India to Vietnam.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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