Scientific Name: Sturnia sinensis
Malay Name: Perling Bahu Putih
Chinese Name: 灰背椋鸟
Range: Found from Southeast China, Hong Kong to Northern Vietnam, wintering to Taiwan and mainland Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy: Monotypic.
Size: 18.5-20.5 cm
Identification: Male displays mostly grey plumage with black wing and tail contrasting with a large white shoulder patch formed by upperwing-coverts and scapulars. Also has whiter rump and uppertail-coverts, mostly bluish-grey bill and white iris. White shoulder patch smaller for female and lacking in juvenile.
Similar looking species: Asian Glossy Starling, Daurian Starling, Chestnut-cheeked Starling
Habitat: Coastal habitat and open areas with scattered trees.
Behaviour/Ecology: Gregarious. Attracted to small-fruited, mass-cropping banyan figs, and also observed foraging in the crowns of casuarinas.
Local Status: Uncommon migrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Changi Reclaimed Land, Lorong Halus, Punggol Barat, Kent Ridge and Tuas South.
Featured reports: Mar 2022, Sep 2022, Oct 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Sep 2023, Nov 2023, Dec 2023, Feb 2024, Oct 2024, Nov 2024, Dec 2024, Jan 2025, Feb 2025
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 (White-shouldered Starling)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Sturnia sinensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22710877A94265438.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.). White-shouldered Starling. Retrieved on March 29, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/white-shouldered-starling.