Chestnut-tailed Starling

Identification

The Chestnut-tailed Starling is a compact bird approximately 20 cm in length, readily identified by its grey upperparts contrasting with distinctive rufous underparts. Adults display a pale grey head with whitish streaking, particularly noticeable on the crown and collar region, paired with a striking yellow bill featuring a pale blue base. The white irises are a key identifying feature. Sexual dimorphism is minimal, though juveniles appear distinctly different with whitish underparts and only chestnut tips to the tail feathers rather than the rich chestnut of adults.

Subspecies variation exists across the species' range. The nominate subspecies (S. m. malabarica) and the closely related Malabar Starling display rufous underparts including the undertail coverts, while the northeastern subspecies nemoricola shows whitish underparts tinged with rufous, particularly on the flanks and undertail region. The blackish flight feathers provide useful contrast to the overall plumage coloration.

Range & Habitat

The Chestnut-tailed Starling is found across India and Southeast Asia, with distribution varying by subspecies and seasonal movement. The nominate subspecies occurs throughout most of India except the southwest and northeast, extending into south Nepal and Bangladesh. The subspecies nemoricola inhabits south Assam and ranges from Myanmar through to north and central Indochina. The species exhibits partial migratory behaviour, with some populations performing poorly understood movements, and the nominate subspecies is known as a winter visitor to peninsular India.

This species shows a clear preference for wooded habitats and cultivated areas, nesting in open woodland environments where suitable cavities are available. It has also been recorded in Pakistan and central and southern India beyond its core range, suggesting occasional vagrancy or irregular movements.

Behaviour & Diet

Like most starlings, the Chestnut-tailed Starling is fairly omnivorous, feeding on fruit, nectar, and insects. A particularly distinctive behaviour is its highly synchronized flocking, where birds fly in tight formations and execute rapid directional changes with remarkable coordination, creating dynamic and visually impressive flight displays.

The species nests in cavities within trees, typically selecting old barbet or woodpecker holes located 3 to 12 metres above ground. The breeding season normally extends from March to June, during which females lay clutches of 3 to 5 pale blue, unmarked eggs. This cavity-nesting habit makes them dependent on the availability of suitable dead trees or previous excavations by other species.

Best Time & Places to See It

The breeding season from March to June offers optimal viewing opportunities, particularly in open woodland and cultivation habitats where the species is most active and conspicuous. In peninsular India, the winter months provide the best chance to encounter the nominate subspecies as a winter visitor. For the subspecies nemoricola, the forested regions of south Assam, Myanmar, and Indochina are the primary locations.

The species' habit of flying in tight, coordinated flocks makes it relatively easy to locate visually, particularly during feeding periods when birds gather in productive fruiting trees or flowering plants. Open woodland areas with scattered mature trees containing nesting cavities are particularly rewarding locations.

Photography Tips

The pale grey head with whitish streaking and distinctive white irises provide excellent focal points for portraiture. The contrast between grey upperparts and rufous underparts is striking and renders well in natural light. Capture the yellow bill with its pale blue base in sharp detail to demonstrate key identifying features.

The coordinated flocking behaviour presents unique photographic opportunities; attempt to capture birds in flight executing synchronized directional changes, which can produce dynamic compositional images. Early morning and late afternoon light will enhance the subtle grey and rufous tones. When photographing birds at nest holes, use a long lens and patient positioning to avoid disturbance during the critical breeding season from March to June.