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
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 November 1, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/white-shouldered-starling.