Photo © by Alok Tewari
Forest-edge, Sat Tal, Alt. 5500 ft., Uttrakhand Himalayas, India, April-2019
- Saroglossa spilopterus
Identification
A small starling with a thin, dark and slightly decurved bill
- White carpal patch
- Blackish mask
- Dark chestnut throat
- Contrasting rufous-buff breast and sides
- White centre of belly and vent
- Scaly grey upperparts
- Chestnut rump
- Dark rufous tail
- Pale yellow eye
Females are unstreaked brown above, whitish below with fine streaks on throat and scaling on breast.
Juveniles are similar to females but they have a dark eye.
Distribution
Breeds in the foothills of the Himalaya in India and Nepal.
Winters to northeast India, Bangladesh, Burma and Thailand.
Scarce in its range, probably no longer occurs in Bangladesh.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Clearings, forest edge and open forest. Occurs in hilly country at 700 - 1000m, locally up to 2000m.
Behaviour
Diet
An omnivorous feeder. Feeds on fruit, insects and nectar. Forages mainly in the canopy, often in flocks and in association with Jungle Myna and Chestnut-tailed Starling.
Breeding
Breeding season from April to June. A monogamous species. Nests in natural tree holes or barbet holes, 6 to 10m above the ground. Lays 3 - 4 eggs.
Movements
A migratory species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Spot-winged Starling. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Spot-winged_Starling
