Chestnut-tailed Starling
|
|
| Chestnut-tailed Starling Conservation status: Lower risk | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Sturnus malabaricus (Gmelin, 1789) |
The Chestnut-tailed Starling, Sturnus malabaricus, is a member of the starling family of birds. It is a resident breeder in India and southeast Asia.
This passerine is typically found in open woodland and cultivation. The Chestnut-tailed Starling builds a nest in hole. The normal clutch is 3-5 eggs.
The adults of these 20cm long birds have dark grey upperparts, rufous underparts and a chestnut tail. The head is a paler grey, with a white throat.
The sexes are similar, but juveniles have grey upperparts and whitish underparts, with just chestnut tips to the tail feathers.
Adults of the south Indian race S. m. blythii have a completely white head and breast.
Like most starlings, the Chestnut-tailed Starling is fairly omnivorous, eating fruit, nectar and insects.
Reference
- Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6