Malabar Starling
Sturnia blythii
Silhouette: Rafael Maia · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilySturnidae (Starlings)
- GenusSturnia (Sturnia Starlings)
- SpeciesSturnia blythii (Malabar Starling)
About the Malabar Starling
The Malabar starling (Sturnia blythii) is a species of starling found in southwestern India. It was previously considered a subspecies of the chestnut-tailed starling. They nest in tree holes 3-15 mm above the ground. Nestlings eat insects, lepidopteran larvae, beetles, small vertebrates, and nectar.
The Malabar starling was formerly placed in the genus Sturnus. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2008 found that the genus was polyphyletic. In the reoganization to create monotypic genera, the Malabar starling was one of five starlings moved to the resurrected genus Sturnia that had been introduced in 1837 by René Lesson. The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised. The Malabar starling was formerly considered to be conspecific with the chestnut-tailed starling (Sturnia malabarica). Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Malabar Starling in Periyar National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Periyar National Park
Chestnut-tailed Starling
Sturnia malabarica
Brahminy Starling
Sturnia pagodarum
Southern Hill Myna
Gracula indica
Jungle Myna
Acridotheres fuscus
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus paradiseus
White-bellied Treepie
Dendrocitta leucogastra
Malabar Whistling-Thrush
Myophonus horsfieldii
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Pycnonotus jocosus
Orange Minivet
Pericrocotus flammeus
Nilgiri Flowerpecker
Dicaeum concolor
Jungle Babbler
Turdoides striata
Indian Scimitar-Babbler
Pomatorhinus horsfieldii
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Periyar National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 2 | Nagarhole National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 3 | Mudumalai National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 4 | Bandipur National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 5 | Eravikulam National Park | 🇮🇳 India |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Malabar Starling in Periyar National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Malabar Starling sighting in Periyar National Park, based on 400 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Malabar Starling in Periyar National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Malabar Starling in Periyar National Park in our monthly data.