Chestnut-cheeked Starling in Cebu

[Godfrey "Godo" Jakosalem]

Hello,

We documented a female Chestnut-cheeked Starling in Cebu with a slightly brown and more white in the back. Which Steve (cuckooroller) says "the ID with the female S. sturnina! Sturnina has been recorded in Phils, though I think from Luzon" this is the few shot i got for the species.


Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Sturnus philippensis)
www.flickr.com/photos/siloy/3510102494/
30d +100-400mm @ 400mm f11 1/25 ISO 200

here's another view

www.flickr.com/photos/siloy/3510102460/
30d +100-400mm @ 400mm f11 1/25 ISO 200

Cheers,

Godo

[Romy Ocon]

Congrats on the rare capture, Godo!

May 23, 2009 14:41:13 GMT Godfrey "Godo" Jakosalem said:

Hello,

We documented a female Chestnut-cheeked Starling in Cebu with a slightly brown and more white in the back. Which Steve (cuckooroller) says "the ID with the female S. sturnina! Sturnina has been recorded in Phils, though I think from Luzon" this is the few shot i got for the species.


Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Sturnus philippensis)
www.flickr.com/photos/siloy/3510102494/

30d +100-400mm @ 400mm f11 1/25 ISO 200

here's another view

www.flickr.com/photos/siloy/3510102460/

30d +100-400mm @ 400mm f11 1/25 ISO 200

Cheers,

Godo

[Godfrey "Godo" Jakosalem]

Hi Guys,

Steve recently commented on these photos and he identify this species as Purple-backed Starling Sturnus sturnina female not the Chestnut-cheeked Starling Sturnus philippensis. This would be the second sightings and perhaps the first photo documentation of the species in the country. The first sighting was in Tubbatha Reefs in 1991 by Arne Jensen.

Based on description and illustrations by Chris Feare and Adrian Craig 1998 from the book Helm Identification Guide Starlings and Mynas it really fits the identification of S sturnina. My friends from Wetlands Trust UK Phil Round and Stephen Rumsey also confirmed this as Purple-backed Starling S. sturnina. I’m still waiting for Arne’s comment on these photos.

Thanks,

Godo

[Romy Ocon]

Wow...congrats on the photo record, Godo!