LeungKowkMing

ID Please, thanks

subbuteo

This looks like a Chinese/White-shouldered Starling that has been dyed then released from captivity.  Could you give the date and location please?

Dylan

PS I'll go with HFCheung's suggestion below and check my books in future- what an unusual coloration!  I've not seen one of these before.
PPS I'll go with John on this one :-)

[ Last edited by subbuteo at 12/12/2012 19:53 ]

HFCheung

Isn't that Chestnut-tailed Starling from Kowloon Park?

ajohn

Dylan, you were right first time. This is a male White-shouldered Starling - you can even see the white 'shoulders'. The head pattern and bill colour also fit White-shouldered rather than Chestnut-tailed. And of course the tail is dark with a paler tip, rather than chestnut!

I'm not sure whether it has been dyed, or whether it is just a factor of the lighting on this bird or perhaps dirt. Dyed individuals are usually brighter than this, and are usually seen in spring rather than winter. A date and location would be useful.

LeungKowkMing

Thanks for the answers

It is taken in KAMTIN arround 27 Apr 2012

Another angle

HFCheung

Strange time to see White-shouldered Starling. Is there some chestnut on the tail?  How likely are there to have hybrid?

ajohn

It's not a strange time to see White-shouldered Starling. They regularly winter in small numbers at Deep Bay and Kam Tin, and is certainly a more likely sighting that Chestnut-tailed or a hybrid (as far as I know, hybridisation has never been found in these species). Having said that, we now have the information that this bird was photographed in late April - a time when there are White-shouldered Starlings breeding at Kam Tin and probably migrants around as well.
The features on this bird clearly fit male White-shouldered, possibly with some staining or dye in the plumage.