Brahminy Starling
Sturnia pagodarum
Also known as: Brahminy Myna
About This Species
Found in open country, orchards and villages across South Asia, this pale, black-crested starling forages both on the ground and up in fruiting trees, often in loose flocks. Look for it among mixed starling flocks at dawn and dusk, when birds move between roosting and feeding areas, and listen for its chattering calls. Fruiting fig and mulberry trees are a reliable place to find groups feeding together.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- A few metres of distance is generally enough to avoid disturbing a feeding flock, and moving slowly rather than approaching directly helps birds stay settled.
- Wild bird protections exist across South Asia but vary by country in scope and enforcement, so treat any specific rule as local rather than universal.
- Avoid disturbing roost trees in the evening, when large numbers of birds gather and are easily flushed.
LCAvesPasseriformesSturnidae
Seasonal Activity
226,433 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Sturnidae
Photo
(c) Dr Caesar Sengupta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Dr Caesar Sengupta
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.