Asian Glossy Starling

Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis) is a medium starling whose adults are glossy green-black with vivid red eyes, while young birds are pale below with strong dark streaking. Body shape, bill structure, plumage pattern and voice provide the strongest field characters. Age, sex and season may alter its appearance, so identification should combine several features and careful direct field comparisons with similar species in the same habitat (Wikipedia, general species account).

It inhabits lowland forest, mangroves, plantations and cities across tropical Southeast Asia, gathering noisily in flocks to feed largely on fruit and also insects. Its movements and social behaviour vary through the year, with breeding birds generally more dispersed and non-breeding birds gathering where food is concentrated. Japanese records place it within the country's documented avifauna as a resident, migrant or visitor (Wikipedia, general species account; Wildlife of Japan occurrence records).