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Where does the Asian Glossy Starling live?

Aplonis panayensis

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The Asian Glossy Starling lives in specific habitats and regions. Knowing where, and when, to look improves your chances of a successful sighting.

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.

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.

Elevation range

Primarily lowlands, from sea level up to approximately 1,000 meters.

Where to look

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

  1. Listen for their calls. Their noisy chattering and whistling calls often give away their presence, especially when in flocks.
  2. Look for fruiting trees. They are highly attracted to fruiting trees, particularly figs. Observing such trees can increase your chances of spotting them.
  3. Observe communal roosts. At dawn and dusk, large flocks can be seen flying to and from communal roosting sites, offering excellent viewing opportunities.
  4. Check urban areas. Don't overlook urban environments; they are very common and conspicuous in cities and towns across their range.

Migration

Resident throughout its range; generally non-migratory. Local movements may occur in response to food availability.

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