White-shouldered Starling

Gray body with greenish-black primary feathers.

Scientific name	Sturnus sinensis
English name	White-shouldered Starling
Japanese name	唐椋鳥
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Sturnidae
Genus	Sturnus
Species	sinensis
Full length	Slightly less than 20cm.
Distribution	Distributed across East Asia and Southeast Asia. In Japan, commonly seen from Honshu southward and in the Yaeyama Islands.

White-shouldered Starling Characteristics and Morphology

A bird one size smaller than the White-cheeked Starling. The overall body color is gray or grayish-brown. Mostly monomorphic (males and females look similar).
The head is not particularly large and is covered with grayish-brown feathers. The eyes are somewhat small with white around a black iris, giving it an expressive look. The bill is gray, with a darker color at the base. The dorsal side is gray, and the primary feathers are a greenish-black. The hue of the black parts is reminiscent of the glossy feathers of a crow. The belly is white. The tail feathers are short and black on the dorsal side. The legs range from gray to pale lead color.

Song

The voice is similar to that of the White-cheeked Starling. It sounds like "kyu-kyu" or "kyuru-kyuru."

White-shouldered Starling Ecology

Habitat

Inhabits farmland, grasslands, and similar areas. Also found on utility lines beside fields.

Food

Omnivorous; feeds on small animals such as insects, as well as seeds and fruits.

Life Cycle

Visits Japan in flocks as a passage migrant. There appear to be few breeding records within the country.

White-shouldered Starling Photos

White-shouldered Starling Photos are introduced.
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The entire body is grayish-brown, with white from the shoulders to the wings.

White-shouldered Starling Information

Naming

The scientific name "sinensis" means "of China," which corresponds to the Japanese name. The "Kara" in the Japanese name refers to "Tang" (China).

White-shouldered Starling Found Locations

Ishigaki Island

Discovered perched on a power line on Ishigaki Island. Several birds were lined up, swaying in the wind. A small flock of Light-vented Bulbuls was also nearby.

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