Chestnut-tailed Starling

Sturnia malabarica (Gmelin, JF, 1789)

Chestnut-tailed Starling, Sturnia malabarica, is a starling of the Oriental Region, widespread across its breeding range. It occurs in wooded habitats in India and Southeast Asia, and is a resident or partly migratory bird. Adults are about 20 cm long. They have grey upperparts and blackish flight feathers, while the rest of the plumage varies with subspecies. The nominate form has a light grey head with pale streaking, white eyes and a yellow bill with a pale blue base. Juveniles show whitish underparts and chestnut only at the tail tips.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Sturnidae — Starlings, Rhabdornises

Breeding range

Oriental Region: widespread