AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

533. Sturnus poltaratzskii

533. Sturnus poltaratzskii.

Finsch's Starling.

Sturnus poltaratzskii, Finsch, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 712; Sharpe, Ibis, 1888, p. 439: Scully, J. A. S. B. lvi, pt. ii, p. 86; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii, p. 36. Sturnus nobilior, Hume, S. F. viii, p. 170 (1879).

Coloration. Resembles S. humii.

Gloss. Head, throat, neck, tail, and wings purplish red; hind neck, back, and breast bronze-green; scapulars and rump purplish blue : abdomen purplish red.

Bill yellow in summer, the base of the lower mandible born-grey ; feet reddish brown ; iris brown (Finsch).

Length about 8.5 ; tail 2.6; wing 4.8 to 5.2; tarsus 1.2 ; bill from gape 1.3.

Distribution. The only specimens that I have seen of this Starling from India are, one from Mardan in the Punjab on the borders of Cabul, another from N. W. India, and one from Sind. The first is in the Hume collection, the second in the Gould collection, the third was collected by Blanford on the Manchhar.

This Starling occurs westwards as far as Europe in winter, and in Siberia and Central Asia in summer. Finsch found it breeding on lake Marka-Kul in the Chinese High Altai at 5000 feet in June.

BookTitle: 
The Fauna Of British India including Ceylon and Burma
Reference: 
OATES EW. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Vol.1 1889.
Title in Book: 
533. Sturnus poltaratzskii
Book Author: 
Eugene William Oates, Edited by William Thomas Blanford
CatNo: 
533
Year: 
1889
Page No: 
523
Common name: 
Finschs Starling
M_ID: 
26849
M_SN: 
Sturnus vulgaris poltaratskyi
Volume: 
Vol. 1
Term name: 
id: 
726

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