White-shouldered Starling Sturnia sinensis Scientific name definitions

17–20 cm; 61 g. Male has forehead buffy white, crown buffy white or pale grey; nape, mantle and back silver-grey, rump buffy ochre; wing dark brown to black, slight green gloss on secondaries, upperwing-coverts and scapulars white, forming large white shoulder patch; tail black with some gloss, rectrices with white or buff tips, broader on outer feathers (pale tips can be completely abraded in worn plumage); some regional variability, rectrices may be tipped with cinnamon (tail resembling that of S. malabarica); chin and throat buff, cheek grey-brown; breast buffy grey, belly and undertail-coverts ochreous; iris silver or white; bill blue-grey; legs grey. Female is similar to male but generally greyer, with less evident contrast, rump little paler than back, rectrices tipped dirty buff. Juvenile is like female but plumage is somewhat browner, lacks white in wing, and has scapulars grey, wing-coverts blackish, bill duller.

Diet includes insects , but no data from breeding range. Largely arboreal when breeding. On non-breeding grounds seen to forage on ground among cattle, and to glean leaves and twigs of trees; also takes figs (Ficus). Gregarious; associates with Aplonis panayensis and Agropsar sturninus on Malay Peninsula.

Song apparently not described. Flight call is a soft "preep", alarm is a harsh "kaar".