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The Asian Glossy Starling is a medium-sized passerine bird known for its iridescent plumage and gregarious nature. It is a common and conspicuous species across its range, often found in urban and suburban environments as well as natural habitats. Its glossy appearance and distinctive calls make it easily recognizable.
Size & lifespan
- Length
- 17-20 cm
- Wingspan
- 28-32 cm
- Weight
- 40-60 g
- Lifespan
- 5-7 years in the wild
- Diet
- Omnivore
Physical characteristics
- Plumage
- Adults are entirely glossy black with a strong iridescent sheen that can appear green, purple, or blue depending on the light. The iridescence is particularly prominent on the head, mantle, and wings. The feathers are sleek and compact.
- Beak shape
- Conical and relatively stout, black in color.
- Eye color
- Bright red, a striking feature against the dark plumage.
- Leg color
- Black
- Distinguishing features
- The combination of entirely glossy black plumage and bright red eyes is highly distinctive for adults. Juveniles have streaked underparts.
- Juvenile appearance
- Juveniles are distinctly different from adults. They have duller, sooty-brown upperparts with less iridescence. Their underparts are pale, often whitish or buff, heavily streaked with dark brown. The eyes are typically dark brown, gradually changing to red as they mature.
- Seasonal changes
- No significant seasonal changes in plumage for adults. Juveniles gradually acquire adult plumage over several months.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Males and females are monomorphic in plumage, appearing identical. There are no discernible external differences between the sexes.
How to identify
- 1
Plumage
Look for the entirely glossy black plumage with iridescent sheens of green, blue, or purple. This uniform dark color is key.
- 2
Eye Color
The bright red eyes of adults are a definitive field mark, contrasting sharply with the dark head.
- 3
Juvenile Plumage
If you see a streaky, duller bird with dark eyes, but similar shape and behavior in the same habitat, it's likely a juvenile Asian Glossy Starling.
- 4
Behavior
Observe their gregarious nature, often seen in noisy flocks, especially when foraging or roosting.
- 5
Vocalizations
Listen for their varied, chattering, and whistling calls, which are often quite loud and distinctive.
Habitat & range
- Biomes
- Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, mangroves, plantations, agricultural areas, urban and suburban environments.
- Geographic range
- Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Also introduced to some Pacific islands.
- Elevation range
- Primarily lowlands, from sea level up to approximately 1,000 meters.
- Preferred environments
- Highly adaptable, preferring open woodlands, forest edges, gardens, parks, cultivated lands, and urban areas with scattered trees. They thrive in human-modified landscapes.
Behavior
- Activity time
- Diurnal, most active during the day, especially in the morning and late afternoon.
- Feeding habits
- Primarily frugivorous, feeding on a wide variety of fruits, especially figs. They also consume insects, nectar, and occasionally small vertebrates. They forage in trees and shrubs, often in large, noisy flocks.
- Social behavior
- Highly gregarious, typically found in flocks of varying sizes, from small groups to hundreds or even thousands, particularly outside the breeding season. They roost communally in large numbers.
- Flight pattern
- Strong, direct, and undulating flight. Often flies in cohesive flocks, especially at dawn and dusk when moving to and from roosting sites.
- Migration pattern
- Resident throughout its range; generally non-migratory. Local movements may occur in response to food availability.
- Territoriality
- While breeding pairs may defend a small area around the nest, they are generally not highly territorial, especially given their communal roosting and foraging habits.
Song & calls
- Song
- The song is a varied and complex series of whistles, chattering notes, gurgles, and mimicry of other birds. It is often delivered from a prominent perch.
- Call
- Common calls include harsh, grating 'churr' or 'chick' notes, sharp 'tseet' calls, and a variety of squeaky, metallic, and whistling sounds. They are very vocal, especially in flocks.
- When they vocalize
- Vocalizes throughout the day, particularly active and noisy at communal roosts at dawn and dusk, and during foraging.
Breeding & reproduction
- Breeding season
- Varies geographically, but generally between March and July in most parts of its range, often coinciding with the rainy season.
- Nesting habits
- Nests are typically built in tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, or crevices in buildings. They are often colonial nesters, with several pairs nesting in close proximity. The nest is a messy cup-shaped structure made of twigs, leaves, and other plant material.
- Clutch size
- 2-4 eggs
- Egg description
- Eggs are pale blue or greenish-blue, sometimes with fine reddish-brown spots. Typically oval-shaped.
- Incubation period
- Approximately 13-15 days
- Fledging period
- About 18-21 days after hatching, the young leave the nest.
- Parental care
- Both parents participate in incubation and feeding of the nestlings. Young are fed a diet primarily of insects and fruits.
Where to find
Urban Parks and Gardens
Common in city parks, botanical gardens, and residential areas with mature trees, where they forage for fruits and insects.
Forest Edges and Open Woodlands
Frequently found at the interface between forests and open areas, including plantations and cultivated lands.
Mangrove Forests
Can be found in coastal mangrove habitats, especially where fruiting trees are present.
Communal Roosts
Look for large congregations of these birds at dusk and dawn in tall trees or structures where they gather to roost.
Field tips
- Listen for their calls. Their noisy chattering and whistling calls often give away their presence, especially when in flocks.
- Look for fruiting trees. They are highly attracted to fruiting trees, particularly figs. Observing such trees can increase your chances of spotting them.
- Observe communal roosts. At dawn and dusk, large flocks can be seen flying to and from communal roosting sites, offering excellent viewing opportunities.
- Check urban areas. Don't overlook urban environments; they are very common and conspicuous in cities and towns across their range.
Similar species
Philippine Glossy Starling
Aplonis guamensis
The Philippine Glossy Starling (formerly considered a subspecies of A. panayensis) is now recognized as a distinct species. It is generally slightly smaller and has a less intense red eye, sometimes appearing orange-red. Its range is restricted to the Philippines.
Metallic Starling
Aplonis metallica
The Metallic Starling has a longer, more pointed tail and more pronounced iridescence, often with a purplish sheen. Its eyes are typically dark, not red. Its range is primarily New Guinea and Australia.
Common Myna
Acridotheres tristis
The Common Myna is brown with a black head, yellow bill, legs, and eye-patch, and prominent white wing patches in flight. It lacks the uniform glossy black plumage and red eyes of the Asian Glossy Starling.
Quick facts
- Color:
- Glossy black with iridescent sheen
- Eye Color:
- Bright red (adults)
- Sociality:
- Highly gregarious, forms large flocks
- Diet:
- Mainly fruits, also insects
- Habitat:
- Wide range, including urban areas
Fun facts
- The iridescent sheen of their plumage is structural, meaning it's caused by the microscopic structure of the feathers scattering light, rather than pigments.
- They are known to be excellent mimics, incorporating calls of other bird species into their own vocalizations.
- Asian Glossy Starlings play an important ecological role as seed dispersers due to their frugivorous diet.
- Their communal roosts can sometimes number in the tens of thousands, creating spectacular aerial displays at dusk.
Scientific classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Genus
- Aplonis
- Species
- panayensis
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