Black-collared Starling

About

The Black-collared Starling is a medium-sized passerine bird belonging to the starling family. It is easily recognizable by its striking black and white plumage, particularly the prominent black collar. It is a common and conspicuous bird across much of Southeast Asia, often found in open habitats and human-modified landscapes.

Size & lifespan

Length

25-30 cm

Wingspan

40-45 cm

Weight

100-150 g

Lifespan

5-10 years in the wild

Diet

Omnivore

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Adults have a white head, neck, and underparts, contrasting sharply with a broad, glossy black collar that extends from the nape across the breast. The back, wings, and tail are dark brown to black, often with a greenish-blue sheen in good light. A prominent white patch is visible on the primary coverts and bases of the primaries, forming a distinct wing panel in flight. The rump is white.

Beak shape

The bill is relatively stout and conical, yellowish-orange with a darker, often reddish, base.

Eye color

Pale yellow to whitish-yellow, surrounded by a patch of bare yellow skin.

Leg color

Yellowish-orange to orange-brown.

Distinguishing features

The combination of a white head, broad black collar, and yellow bare skin around the eye is diagnostic. The white wing patch is also a key field mark, especially in flight.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles are duller overall, with a brownish-grey head and neck, and a less defined, duller brown collar. The bare skin around the eye is less prominent and paler. The bill is duller, often brownish-yellow. They gradually acquire adult plumage over their first year.

Seasonal changes

No significant seasonal plumage changes. The plumage remains consistent throughout the year.

Sexual dimorphism

Males and females are generally monomorphic in plumage, appearing identical. There might be slight size differences, with males being marginally larger, but this is not reliably discernible in the field.

How to identify

1. 1

   Head and Neck

   Look for the entirely white head and neck, which is a striking contrast to the rest of the body.

2. 2

   Black Collar

   Identify the broad, glossy black band that wraps around the nape and extends across the upper breast, forming a distinct 'collar'.

3. 3

   Eye Patch

   Note the bare, bright yellow skin around the pale yellow eye. This is a very distinctive feature.

4. 4

   Bill and Legs

   Observe the yellowish-orange bill with a reddish base and the yellowish-orange legs.

5. 5

   Wing Patch

   In flight, look for the prominent white patch on the primary coverts and bases of the primaries, which stands out against the dark wings.

6. 6

   Rump

   The white rump is also a good field mark, especially when the bird is in flight or perched with its back to you.

7. 7

   Vocalizations

   Listen for its varied and often melodious song, which includes whistles, trills, and chattering, as well as its harsh 'churr' calls.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, shrublands, wetlands (marshes, swamps), and urban/suburban areas.

Geographic range

Southeast Asia, including southern China (Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan), Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and parts of Peninsular Malaysia. It has also been introduced to Taiwan.

Elevation range

Typically found from sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters (5,000 feet).

Preferred environments

Favors open country, agricultural land, parks, gardens, golf courses, urban fringes, and areas with scattered trees and short grass. It is often associated with human habitation and disturbed environments.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal. Most active during daylight hours, particularly in the morning and late afternoon.

Feeding habits

Highly omnivorous. Forages primarily on the ground, walking with a confident gait, probing the soil with its bill. Diet includes a wide variety of invertebrates (insects, worms, snails), small vertebrates (lizards, frogs), fruits, berries, seeds, and human food scraps. Often seen foraging in short grass, lawns, and cultivated fields.

Social behavior

Highly gregarious, especially outside the breeding season. Often seen in pairs or small family groups, but can form large flocks, sometimes numbering hundreds or even thousands, particularly at communal roosts. These large flocks can be quite noisy and conspicuous.

Flight pattern

Flight is strong and direct, often in undulating patterns over longer distances. The white wing patches are very noticeable in flight.

Migration pattern

Primarily a resident species throughout its range, with no significant migratory movements. Local movements may occur in response to food availability or habitat changes.

Territoriality

During the breeding season, pairs establish and defend a nesting territory. Outside of breeding, they are less territorial and more tolerant of other individuals.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Varies geographically, but generally from March to August, peaking in April-June in many areas.

Nesting habits

Nests are typically bulky, untidy structures made of twigs, grass, leaves, and other plant material, lined with finer materials like rootlets or feathers. They are usually placed in tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, crevices in buildings, or sometimes in dense foliage of trees or palms. Both parents participate in nest building.

Clutch size

3-5 eggs, occasionally up to 6.

Egg description

Typically 3-5 eggs, pale blue or greenish-blue, sometimes with faint reddish-brown spots or speckles.

Incubation period

Approximately 14-15 days, primarily by the female, though the male may assist.

Fledging period

Chicks fledge around 20-23 days after hatching. Both parents feed the young.

Parental care

Both male and female parents share incubation duties (though female does most) and extensively participate in feeding and caring for the nestlings and fledglings.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Look on the ground. These starlings primarily forage on the ground in short grass, so scan lawns, fields, and open areas.
2. Listen for calls. Their varied and often loud vocalizations make them easy to locate, even before you see them.
3. Check communal roosts. Outside the breeding season, look for large flocks gathering at communal roost sites, often in tall trees, especially at dusk.
4. Observe in pairs or small groups. They are rarely solitary, so if you see one, there are likely others nearby.

Similar species

Quick facts

Distinguishing Mark:

White head, black collar, yellow eye patch

Habitat Preference:

Open country, agricultural land, urban areas

Diet:

Omnivorous (insects, fruits, seeds, scraps)

Sociality:

Highly gregarious, forms large flocks

Conservation Status:

Least Concern (stable population)

Fun facts

• The Black-collared Starling is known for its ability to mimic the calls of other birds, adding them to its own complex song.
• Despite its striking appearance, it is a very common and adaptable species, thriving in human-modified environments.
• Large communal roosts can be quite spectacular, with hundreds or thousands of birds gathering in a single tree or grove.
• Its scientific name 'nigricollis' literally means 'black-necked', referring to its most prominent feature.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Sturnidae

Genus

Gracupica

Species

nigricollis

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