White-cheeked Starling

This species is defined as a Review Species. Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page.

Scientific Name: Spodiopsar cineraceus
Malay Name: Perling Pipi Putih
Chinese Name: 灰椋鸟

Range:
Breeding range includes Russia, China, Japan and Korean Peninsula; non-breeding range includes southeastern China.

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 22-24 cm

Identification:
Rather uniform brownish-grey body with conspicuous white ear coverts and forehead. Pale belly and vent with white rump. Bill and legs yellow to orange.

Habitat: Open habitat.

Behaviour/Ecology: Gregarious, mostly forages on ground. 

Local Status: Very rare vagrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Featured articles:

Past accepted records in our database:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

White-cheeked Starling at Aichi, Japan. Photo credit: Keita Sin
White-cheeked Starling at Picadilly, Seletar. Photo credit: Adrian Silas Tay
White-cheeked Starling at Holland Plain, 24 April 2021. Photo credit: George and Julia Presanis
White-cheeked Starling at Picadilly, Seletar. 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 (White-cheeked Starling)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Spodiopsar cineraceus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22710896A94265691.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023