Scientific Name: Agropsar sturninus
Malay Name: Perling Ubun Ungu
Chinese Name: 北椋鸟
Alternative Name(s): Purple-backed Starling
Range: Found from Eastern Mongolia, Southeast Russia, Northeast and Central China to North Korea, wintering to Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy: Monotypic.
Size: 17-19 cm
Identification: Male has pale greyish head and underparts, glossy dark purplish nape-patch and upperparts, glossy dark upperwings with two whitish wingbars and black tail. Female and juvenile look similar to male but glossy dark plumage replaced with brown.
Similar looking species: Asian Glossy Starling, Chestnut-cheeked Starling, White-shouldered Starling
Habitat: Forest, wooded areas, gardens, parks, open and coastal habitats.
Behaviour/Ecology: Highly gregarious. Can form huge flock of up to a thousand birds on passage.
Local Status: Common migrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Suitable habitats throughout Singapore like Bidadari, Sungei Buloh, Seletar Mudflat, Punggol Barat, Lorong Halus, Changi, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Kent Ridge Park and Central Catchment Forest.
Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Daurian Starling)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Agropsar sturninus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22710870A94264888.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
Stanton, D. J., & Leven, M. R. (2014). Abnormal colours of east Asian starlings: a mystery solved? BirdingASIA, 22, 101–104.
Wells, D. R. (1999). The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula (Vol. 1). Academic Press, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Daurian Starling. Retrieved on December 11, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/daurian-starling.