Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Malabar Starling
Sturnia blythii
Malabar Starling (Sturnia blythii) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Malabar Starling (Sturnia blythii) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 39.6 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Sturnidae Starlings, Rhabdornises
- Genus Sturnia
- Species blythii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 39.6 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Malabar Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Malabar Starling is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Malabar Starling (Sturnia blythii) is a species of bird in the Sturnidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR sw India.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 39.6 g, with a wing length of about 10.1 cm and a tail of around 6.5 cm.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Malabar Starling?
The Malabar Starling is a small bird that weighs around 39.6 g.
Where does the Malabar Starling live?
The Malabar Starling is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR sw India, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Malabar Starling belong to?
The Malabar Starling (Sturnia blythii) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Malabar Starling eat?
The Malabar Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Malabar Starling migrate?
The Malabar Starling is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Sturnidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.