Daurian Starling        Agropsar sturninus

Etymology: 

• Agropsar : Greek word agros – field; psar –starling

• Sturninus : Latin word for speckled, starling like

 

Distribution : Found in Andaman Islands in migration ( Oct-Nov) 

Description: It has a size of 14–15 cm; weight of 11–20 g.

Male of nominate race has grey crown to nape, palest in superciliary area, bordering black face and throat. The mantle, back and scapulars are black. It has blackish wings with compact bold white patch on mid-wing, orange-rufous rump and outer tail, blackish central tail and orange-rufous underparts. In fresh plumage has mantle scaled paler; bill and legs are blackish.

The female is mid-brown above, pale brown below, with white wing patch and tail pattern as male.

The juvenile is dark brown with buff mottling above, buff with brown mottling below, with narrow rufous rump, black tail, white wing markings as adult.

Habitat: It is found in subalpine woods and forest, riverside thickets, secondary jungle, scrub, clearings, tea gardens, open country near human settlements, gardens and parks. It is found in summer at 2800–3700 m.

Food habits:  It eats insects, berries, seeds. It makes short flights from perch and short aerial sallies.

Breeding habits: They breed in Apr–Jun in S Siberia, and May–Aug in Mongolia and Tibet. The nest is a cup made of straw, bark, moss and rootlets, lined with fine grass, hair and feathers, placed in hole in ground, tree, rock, wall, bank or cliff, on rafter of old building or in building site, or nest box. They lay a clutch of 3–6 eggs. The incubation period is 16–18 days, nestling period is 13–14 days.