Sturnia malabarica
The Chestnut-tailed Starling, *Sturnia malabarica*, is a charming and widespread passerine native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Measuring approximately 19-21 cm (7.5-8.3 inches) in length and weighing 46-54 grams, it presents a generally pale grey plumage, often with a pinkish or buff wash on its underparts. Its head and neck are a distinctive paler grey or whitish, sharply contrasting with its most notable feature: a bright rufous or chestnut-colored tail, which gives the sp...
Found primarily in open deciduous woodlands, cultivated areas, urban parks, and gardens, this species thrives in varied human-modified landscapes from lowlands up to elevations of 1,500 meters.
This omnivorous species feeds primarily on fruits, berries, and nectar, supplemented by a diverse diet of insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars, acquired through gleaning and probing.
Chestnut-tailed Starlings are highly diurnal, spending their days actively foraging before gathering in often spectacular, large communal roosts in trees or reed beds at dusk, especially outside the breeding season. Their foraging strategy is omnivorous, involving both ground gleaning for insects...
The Chestnut-tailed Starling has a wide distribution across the Oriental biogeographic realm. Its primary breeding and year-round resident range spans the Indian subcontinent, encompassing India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Further eastward, it is resident throughout much of Southea...
Least Concern
- The species name "malabarica" refers to the Malabar Coast of southwestern India, where it is commonly found. - They are known to form spectacular communal roosts that can number in the thousands, attracting attention at dusk. - Unlike many starlings, the Chestnut-tailed Starling has very little...