Asian Glossy Starling

Identification

The Asian glossy starling is a sleek, medium-sized starling with distinctive plumage that lives up to its name. The bird displays glossy black or dark plumage across most of its body, giving it an elegant, iridescent appearance. Its most striking feature is a bright red eye-ring that stands out vividly against the dark head, making identification relatively straightforward in the field. This combination of glossy dark coloring and the conspicuous red orbital ring creates a striking visual contrast that is particularly noticeable when the bird is perched in good light.

Range & Habitat

The Asian glossy starling is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, with its range encompassing Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, and Thailand. The species has also been introduced to Taiwan. Its natural habitats include subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests, as well as subtropical and tropical mangrove forests, where it thrives in warm, humid environments.

However, the bird has successfully adapted to human-modified landscapes and is now incredibly abundant in towns and cities throughout its range. In urban and suburban areas, these starlings find refuge in abandoned buildings and trees, making them among the most visible and vocal birds in Asian cities. In the Philippines, where the species is particularly common, it is known by local names including kulansiyang, galansiyang, and kuling-dagat.

Behaviour & Diet

The Asian glossy starling is highly gregarious, often moving in large groups that can be quite conspicuous. These birds are exceptionally vocal and are considered one of the noisiest species of birds, producing loud and varied calls that make their presence known even before they are seen. Their gregarious nature and vocal behavior make them a notable and sometimes challenging presence in areas where they congregate in large numbers.

Best Time & Places to See It

The Asian glossy starling is common and widespread throughout its range, making it relatively easy to observe in suitable habitat. Look for flocks in towns and cities across South and Southeast Asia, where they are particularly abundant. Forest habitats—both lowland moist forests and mangrove forests—also support healthy populations. The bird's highly gregarious nature means that sightings often involve multiple individuals, sometimes in large, noisy flocks.

Photography Tips

The glossy black plumage and bright red eye-ring provide excellent subject contrast for photography. The bird's habit of perching openly in trees and on buildings offers good opportunities for portraiture. Capture images in bright conditions to showcase the iridescence of the plumage and to make the red eye-ring stand out clearly. Flocking behavior offers chances for dynamic group compositions, particularly in urban settings where roosting birds gather in trees at dawn and dusk.