White-shouldered Starling
WHITE-SHOULDERED STARLING
Sturnus sinensis
Family Sturnidae
Bird # 341 - October 2011
This is a rare migrant to the Philippines. It measures 190mm (7 1/2"). It has a grey bill, blue eyes, and white patch on the shoulder.
White-shouldered Starlings are usually found in flocks. Our first sight of one was a single individual perched on a wire in Sabtang. We saw it while we were sitting on the roof of our vehicle. Tonji noted that the starlings in Sabtang were found near the populated area of the island. So, back in Batan, he checked the nearby town plaza and discovered that there indeed was a big flock of these starlings in the big grassy field at the town plaza. It was remarkable to watch them circle the plaza, land on a tree, then disappear into the foliage before our eyes! Considering that their underparts are white, they had a remarkably good way of blending into the leaves of the trees.
Read MoreSturnus sinensis
Family Sturnidae
Bird # 341 - October 2011
This is a rare migrant to the Philippines. It measures 190mm (7 1/2"). It has a grey bill, blue eyes, and white patch on the shoulder.
White-shouldered Starlings are usually found in flocks. Our first sight of one was a single individual perched on a wire in Sabtang. We saw it while we were sitting on the roof of our vehicle. Tonji noted that the starlings in Sabtang were found near the populated area of the island. So, back in Batan, he checked the nearby town plaza and discovered that there indeed was a big flock of these starlings in the big grassy field at the town plaza. It was remarkable to watch them circle the plaza, land on a tree, then disappear into the foliage before our eyes! Considering that their underparts are white, they had a remarkably good way of blending into the leaves of the trees.
WHITE-SHOULDERED STARLING Sturnus sinensis Batan, Batanes, Philippines
white shouldered starlingstarlingmigrantsturnus sinensissabtangbatanesoctober 20112011octobertonjiandsylviabirdlistbird 2013
