Chestnut-tailed Starling vs White-shouldered Starling

Chestnut-tailed Starling

Sturnia malabarica

Small40 gWoodland

The adults have a total length of approximately 20 cm (7.9 in). They have grey upperparts and blackish remiges, but the colour of the remaining plumage depends on the subspecies. In the nominate subspecies and blythii, the underparts (incl. undertail) are rufous, but in nemoricola the underparts are whitish tinged rufous, especially on the flanks and crissum (the undertail coverts surrounding the cloaca). The nominate and nemoricola have a light grey head with whitish streaking (especially on crown and collar region). Both subspecies have white irises and a yellow bill with a pale blue base.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: sucker69420 · CC BY 4.0

White-shouldered Starling

Sturnia sinensis

Medium61 gGrassland

The white-shouldered starling has blue eyes, a grey bill, and a white patch on the shoulder. The adult male has a light brown head and breast and a white belly while an adult female is darker brown on the back and belly. This bird is usually found in large flocks.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Aiken Lau · CC0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Chestnut-tailed Starling and White-shouldered Starling.