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[[Image:95331712 w8dqrJxx IMG 299.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Ayuwat+J|Ayuwat J}}<br />Beppu Park, Beppu, Oita, [[Japan]]]] | [[Image:95331712 w8dqrJxx IMG 299.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Ayuwat+J|Ayuwat J}}<br />Beppu Park, Beppu, Oita, [[Japan]]]] | ||
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'''Alternative names: Gray Starling, Grey Starling, Ashy Starling''' | '''Alternative names: Gray Starling, Grey Starling, Ashy Starling''' | ||
;[[:Category:Sturnus|Sturnus]] cineraceus | ;[[:Category:Sturnus|Sturnus]] cineraceus | ||
''Poliopsar cineraceus'' | ''Poliopsar cineraceus'' | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 9.5" | + | 22cm (9.5"). A medium-sized, brownish-grey starling. |
| − | + | * Head and throat black with white grizzling, the latter concentrated in white cheek patches | |
| + | * Back, lower breast and belly dark grey | ||
| + | * Wings dark grey with blackish primaries, a narrow white wing-bar on secondaries | ||
| + | * Vent and rump white, the latter noticeable in flight | ||
| + | * Tail blackish-grey, with white tips on outer feathers | ||
| + | * Bill yellow with a black tip, feet orange | ||
| + | [[Image:IMG 2458.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|Ayuwat+J|Ayuwat J}}<br />Beppu Park, Beppu, Oita, [[Japan]]]] | ||
| + | Sexes similar. Females are a bit paler and duller coloured. Juvenile with grey head with white cheeks and throat. Voice: A creaky <i>chir-chir-chay-cheet-cheet</i>. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Breeds in southeast [[Siberia]], [[Mongolia]], northern [[China]], [[Korea]], southern Sakhalin and [[Japan]].<br /> | Breeds in southeast [[Siberia]], [[Mongolia]], northern [[China]], [[Korea]], southern Sakhalin and [[Japan]].<br /> | ||
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Prefers open country and cultivated areas with scattered trees. | Prefers open country and cultivated areas with scattered trees. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | + | Omnivorous, feeds mainly on invertebrates and insects. <br /> | |
| − | Forages in flocks, feeding largely on the ground. | + | Forages in flocks, feeding largely on the ground.<br /> |
| + | Breeding season from April to July. A [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monogamous]] species, nesting in colonies of up to 30 pairs. The untidy nest is placed in a tree hole, under house eaves or in nestboxes. In [[Mongolia]] also known to excavate its own hole in a sandy steep riverbank. Lays 2 - 10 eggs. Interspecific brood parasitism occurs, the females laying their eggs in nests of [[Purple-backed Starling]]s.<br /> | ||
| + | Most populations migratory, resident in [[Japan]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}} | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}} | ||
Revision as of 14:35, 11 December 2010
Alternative names: Gray Starling, Grey Starling, Ashy Starling
- Sturnus cineraceus
Poliopsar cineraceus
Identification
22cm (9.5"). A medium-sized, brownish-grey starling.
- Head and throat black with white grizzling, the latter concentrated in white cheek patches
- Back, lower breast and belly dark grey
- Wings dark grey with blackish primaries, a narrow white wing-bar on secondaries
- Vent and rump white, the latter noticeable in flight
- Tail blackish-grey, with white tips on outer feathers
- Bill yellow with a black tip, feet orange
Sexes similar. Females are a bit paler and duller coloured. Juvenile with grey head with white cheeks and throat. Voice: A creaky chir-chir-chay-cheet-cheet.
Distribution
Breeds in southeast Siberia, Mongolia, northern China, Korea, southern Sakhalin and Japan.
Parts of the population winter in southern China (including Hainan) and Taiwan. Recorded as vagrant in Burma, Thailand and the Philippines.
Common to very common in most of its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It's sometimes placed in the genus Poliopsar.
Habitat
Prefers open country and cultivated areas with scattered trees.
Behaviour
Omnivorous, feeds mainly on invertebrates and insects.
Forages in flocks, feeding largely on the ground.
Breeding season from April to July. A monogamous species, nesting in colonies of up to 30 pairs. The untidy nest is placed in a tree hole, under house eaves or in nestboxes. In Mongolia also known to excavate its own hole in a sandy steep riverbank. Lays 2 - 10 eggs. Interspecific brood parasitism occurs, the females laying their eggs in nests of Purple-backed Starlings.
Most populations migratory, resident in Japan.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-cheeked Starling. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 12 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-cheeked_Starling
