White Cheeked Starling
- Distribution: Found in parts of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar.
- Habitat: Open woodlands, forest edges, agricultural areas, urban parks.
- Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insects, fruits, seeds, and occasionally small vertebrates.
- Size: Typically around 20-22 cm in length.
Within the starling family, the white-cheeked starling, often known as the grey starling, is a passerine bird (Spodiopsar cineraceus). It is indigenous to eastern Asia, where it is widely distributed and regarded as a common bird.
The length of a white-cheeked starling is 24 cm. With a lighter belly and a whitish line across the rump, the adult male is primarily dark grey-brown in color. The forehead and cheeks are pale, and the skull has a blackish tint. The secondary wing feathers have white markings, and the tail has a white border. The bill is orange with a black tip, while the legs are a light orange color. Although duller and paler, adult females resemble males.
The young animal is brown, with pale cheeks, a pale rump, and a beak without a black tip. The call is harsh and creaky, repeated loud and monotonous.
March through July is breeding season, and during that time, two clutches of eggs are frequently laid. The nest is constructed in a nestbox, a hole in a tree, or another structure.