Wildlifeof China
Black-collared Starling
Starlings & Mynas
Photo: Noel Reynolds · CC BY 2.0
Gracupica nigricollis
Basic stats
Diet
Insects, earthworms and seeds
Habitat
Grassland, dry forest, cultivated areas and settlements, mostly at low elevation but up to 2,000 m
Range
Southern China and most of mainland South-east Asia; introduced to Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore
Clutch size
3–5 eggs
Size
26–30 cm
The black-collared starling is a black-and-white starling 26–30 cm long, found in southern China and most of mainland South-east Asia and introduced to Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. It lives in grassland, dry forest, cultivated areas and human settlements, mostly at low elevation but up to 2,000 m. (Wikipedia, general species account)
The head is white with a yellow patch of bare skin around the eye and a black collar; the mantle, back and wings are dark brown, almost black, and the underparts white. It forages on the ground, sometimes around livestock, eating insects, earthworms and seeds, and lays three to five eggs per clutch. It is very vocal, with shrill, harsh, melodious and discordant calls, including a jay-like kraak kraak. (Wikipedia, general species account)
Quick answers
- What does the Black-collared Starling eat?
- Insects, earthworms and seeds
- What habitat does the Black-collared Starling live in?
- Grassland, dry forest, cultivated areas and settlements, mostly at low elevation but up to 2,000 m
- Where is the Black-collared Starling found?
- Southern China and most of mainland South-east Asia; introduced to Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore
- How many eggs does the Black-collared Starling lay?
- 3–5 eggs
- How big is the Black-collared Starling?
- 26–30 cm