Purple-backed Starlings at a termite hatch

YC Wee
on 16th June 2015

“Saw a flock of 35-40 of these migratory Purple-backed Starling (Sturnus sturninus) with a few 1st winter birds. (Above shows an adult male, below adult male at left and adult female at right.)

“They were aerial foraging for swarming termites in the early morning with Blue-tailed Bee-eaters (Merops philippinus), mynas, a pair of Pied Trillers (Lalage nigra), a White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), etc.

(The image above shows 1st winter starling and below, starling in flight.)

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
29th September 2014

Location: Malim Nawar Wetlands, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Extensive ex-tin mining area with many pond/lakes, wetlands, fish farming

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the authors/contributors, and do not represent nor are they endorsed by the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore (LKCNHM, NUS) or any of NUS’s affiliates or subsidiaries. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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