Asian Glossy Starling

Fascinating facts about the Asian Glossy Starling

• At just 20 cm long and weighing only 50-60 g, the Asian glossy starling fits on the tip of a ruler yet packs the mass of a small apple. That feather-light frame lets it dart through forest canopies and city streets with the agility of a hummingbird, while its glossy black plumage makes it flash like a moving mirror. Its tiny size also means it can slip into narrow gaps in abandoned buildings, giving it a hidden refuge in human-made habitats.
• Spanning Bangladesh, Brunei, northeastern India (Assam), Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia and Thailand, the Asian glossy starling occupies a continent-wide swath of South-East Asia. It in both subtropical moist lowland forest and mangrove forest, yet it has also been introduced to Taiwan.
• Thirteen recognized subspecies, each named by various ornithologists, trace the starling's spread across islands and peninsulas. For example, A. p. affinis was described by Blyth in 1876 for populations in northeastern India and Bangladesh, while A. p. gusti was named by Stresemann in 1913 for birds on Bali. These dated descriptions map a century-long scientific effort to catalogue the bird's island-hopping evolution, highlighting how geography drives subtle plumage and bill changes.
• Most adults flash a bright red iris, but the subspecies A. p. albiris breaks the rule with a stark white eye, while juveniles may show yellow, orange, or pink irises.
• In towns and cities the starling finds shelter in abandoned buildings and trees. Their reputation as one of the noisiest bird species comes from these large groups.

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.

• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Asian Glossy Starling

The Asian Glossy Starling, known scientifically as Aplonis panayensis, is a remarkable avian inhabitant of Southeast Asia, embodying a striking blend of iridescent plumage that shifts from deep emerald green to rich purples under varying light conditions. These medium-sized birds, measuring around 25 cm in length, boast a distinctive long tail and a stout, conical bill that aids in their varied diet. Found predominantly in forested areas, mangroves, and urban gardens, the Asian Glossy Starling thrives in both natural and human-altered landscapes. Their adaptability is notable as they often form large flocks, providing a mesmerizing spectacle as they swoop and dive through the canopy, their vocalizations filling the air with a series of melodious whistles and chattering calls that echo through their habitats, creating a vibrant auditory backdrop to their visual splendor. In terms of behavior, these birds are highly social, often seen foraging in groups as they scavenge for fruits, berries, and insects. Their diet is diverse, reflecting their opportunistic feeding habits, which can include nectar from flowers and even scraps left by humans. One surprising trait of the Asian Glossy Starling is its ability to mimic the calls of other bird species, showcasing a level of vocal versatility that enhances their social interactions. This mimicry not only aids in communication but also plays a role in their courtship displays, as male starlings often compete with one another by imitating the sounds of their neighbors, adding layers to their already complex social structure, which continues to intrigue ornithologists and birdwatchers alike.

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