Asian Glossy Starling

Asian Glossy Starling

Scientific Name: Aplonis panayensis

Malay Name: Perling-Kilat Asia

Chinese Name: 亚洲辉椋鸟

Alternative Name(s): Philippines Glossy Starling (old)

Range: Found from Northeast India, Bangladesh, along the coast of Myanmar to South Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Borneo, Indonesia to the Philippines.

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: affinis, tytleri, albiris, strigata, altirostris, nesodramus, pachistorhina, enganensis, heterochlora, eustathis, alipodis, gusti, sanghirensis, panayensis.

Local Subspecies: strigata

Size: 22-25 cm

Identification: Adults have overall glossy blackish-green plumage, black bill and legs, and diagnostic red eyes. Juveniles have greyish-brown upperparts and dull buffish-white underparts with bold dark streaks.

Similar looking species: Daurian Starling, White-shouldered Starling

Habitat: Forest, wooded areas, mangroves, parks and gardens.

Behaviour/Ecology: Feeds on insects and fruits. Gregarious when foraging and may form big flocks at roosting sites.

Local Status: Very common resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Throughout Singapore.

Asian Glossy Starling adult feeding juveniles at Dairy Farm. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Asian Glossy Starling at Ghim Moh Link. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Asian Glossy Starling at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Adult Asian Glossy Starling at Lorong Halus. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Juvenile Asian Glossy Starling at Seletar. Photo credit: Con Foley
Asian Glossy Starling at Bukit Drive. Photo credit: Francis Yap
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Asian Glossy Starling)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Aplonis panayensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22710550A94251159.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

Wells, D. R. (1999). The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula (Vol. 1). Academic Press, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Asian Glossy Starling. Retrieved on June 21, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/asian-glossy-starling.

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