Black-collared starling

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The black-collared starling (Gracupica nigricollis) is a medium-sized bird with striking black and white plumage and a black collar. It is about 26–30 cm long. The head is white with a patch of bare yellow skin around the eye. A black band goes around the neck, giving it its name. The back and wings are dark brown, and the underparts are white, sometimes with a grey-brown tint. The tail and many wing feathers have white tips. The beak is black and the legs are pale grey. Adults of both sexes look the same. Juveniles are browner, with streaks on the neck and breast and no collar.

Where it lives: The bird is native to southern China (from Fujian to Yunnan) and across mainland Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand). It has been introduced to Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore, and an individual found in Brunei may be an escaped or rare sighting.

Habitat and food: It lives in grasslands, dry forests, cultivated areas and human settlements, usually at low elevations but up to about 2000 meters. It forages on the ground, feeding on insects, earthworms and seeds.

Sound and behavior: The starling is very vocal, with a variety of calls and songs. Its calls can be shrill, harsh or melodic, and its song is described as tcheeuw-tchew-trieuw. When singing, it puffs out its chest. It has two recorded courtship displays: pairs facing each other with feathers ruffled and beaks open, or pairs with wings drooped and heads bowed. They may run or chase each other between displays and often preen each other (allopreening).

Breeding: The breeding season varies by region (Thailand February–May; China March–July; Burma April–August). They build a large domed nest from twigs, grasses, feathers and flowers on a tree, and the nest may be reused. Nesting colonies have been observed. A typical clutch has 3–5 eggs.

Conservation: The IUCN lists the black-collared starling as Least Concern. Deforestation seems to have helped its range expand, and the population appears to be increasing.

Taxonomy: The species was first described as Gracula nigricollis by Paykull in 1807. It used to be placed in genus Sturnus, but was moved to Gracupica in 2008 after phylogenetic studies. Synonyms include Sturnus nigricollis.