Scientific Name: Agropsar philippensis
Alternative Name: Red-cheeked Starling, Violet-backed Starling
Malay Name: Perling Pipi Perang
Chinese Name: 紫背椋鸟
Range:
Found from Sakhalin to Northern Japan, wintering to Southern Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Borneo, Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore.
Taxonomy:
Monotypic
Size: 16.5-17 cm
Identification: Male resembles Daurian Starling but has diagnostic chestnut patch on ear-coverts and neck-side. Female without chestnut patch and difficult to separate from female Daurian Starling but when in flight, lacks whitish tips to scapulars, greater coverts and tertials.
Similar looking species: Daurian Starling
Habitat: Wooded areas and open habitats.
Behaviour/Ecology: Feed on insects and fruits. A male bird was photographed feeding on a ficus with a big flock of Daurian Starling at Bidadari on 11 Oct 2014 (last confirmed sighting).
Local Status: Very rare vagrant.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Location: Bidadari and Loyang.
Photos:
External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page (BirdLife: Sturnus philippensis)
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
Reference:
Craig Robson (2011) A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia
David Wells (2007) The Birds of Thai-Malay Peninsula, Volume 2
