Siberian Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris poltaratskyi (Finsch, 1878)

		spring autumn plumage
2013-04-25 Eastern Kazakstan,Usti-Kamenogorsk .Komsomolskyi ostrov 2011-09-27 Pavlodarskoe, Pavlodar region, Pavlodar oblast.	© Vladimir Shefer © Oleg Lyakhov

Description

The crown is violet glossy, usually without green tinge; the back, rump and upper tail coverts are green glossy, sometimes with a weak violet tinge; the throat and upper breast are violet glossy; the under breast is green glossy; the abdomen is green glossy with more developed violet tinge than on vulgaris; the ear coverts on the majority of specimens are more violet less green glossy. The underwing coverts have slightly broader than on vulgaris buffy edges. It is close to vulgaris.

Distribution

Breeds in the northern half of Kazakhstan, in south to lower Irgiz and Turgay rivers, Kurgaldzhino Reserve and Zaysan depression. It nests in Pavlodar Trans-Irtysh area, Kalbinskiy Altai and in southwest Altai. On migration it occurs in most parts of Kazakhstan. Sometimes winters on Barsa-Kelmes island. On Chardara reservoir 18-21 December 2003 a lot of birds were observed.

References

Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. "Птицы Казахстана" том 5. "Наука". Алма-Ата, 1974. Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005 А.Ф.Ковшарь "Певчие птицы". Алма-Ата, "Кайнар", 1983.