Black birds are back for black berries.

 The black birds are back again.  They are coming in big flocks.  They make the park sounds busy and noisy.  These birds belong to the Philippines Glossy Starling species. At present they come here to enjoy the delicious berries of the Eugenia oleina trees.  Since these trees are planted at every corner of the park, the excitement is seen everywhere.  These birds flock to the branches that are laden with the black berries and then they might take a rest at nearby perches.  They arrival are most welcomed here.

My eyes as red as the seeds

Philippines Glossy Starling at the 'Simpoh Air' fruit - Dillenia suffructicosa

Philippines Glossy Starling (juvenile)

Black birds are back

Philippine Glossy Starling - Aplonis panayensis
Adults are a glossy black'  Juvenile ones are whitish (seen at bottom right)
Location : Zone C, perching on Balem tree

Juvenile has whitish body, streaked back
and bright  red iris.

 The black birds are back.  For the last two days they have been flocking to the park.  There are many fruiting tall jungle trees at the moment that attract them for their fruits.  You can hear their noisy calls in the air because being social starlings they congregate in large numbers.  Often these black birds are called 'Philippine Glossy Starling' though it seems fashionable to call them Asian Glossy Starling now because interest in birding and photography from Bengal to Vietnam and south to Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia have recorded that they are residents to these many countries. 

A juvenile with something to swallow...

The Perlings are coming!

A flock of perlings attracted to a fruiting jungle tree at Botanic Island One

Philippines Glossy Starling
(Aplonis panayensis)

 Two days ago they send in the scout.  Yesterday a few birds were seen flying around the park.  Today a flock of these black birds came to town.  They were feeding tiny green fruits of a tall jungle tree at Botanic Island One.  Later in the day the flock concentrated on an Eugenia oleina tree that was full of tiny berry-like fruits.  They seemed to have a liking to these black fruits and were not bothered to share the tree with the bulbuls and flowerpeckers.  Once they found a fruiting tree they would come back again and hopefully I can take more pictures of them tomorrow.

An adult perling has glossy dark bluish black body and characteristic bright red iris.
This perling is resting on the Eugenia oleina branch.

Birdwatch album - Philippine Glossy Starling

Philippine Glossy Starling
(Aplonis panayensis)

The Perlings would visit the park when the jungle trees bear fruits or the ornamental Eugenia oleina trees black berries are produced after every flowering season.  They come in big flocks for days on end but they don't settle or make their homes here. The adults are all black with a green gloss and a conspicuous red iris.  Juvenile or immature birds are whitish below and streaked with black.  When they roost on the dead tree branches they produce loud chatter and will fly off simultaneously if provoked or are alerted.

A juvenile or immature bird have slightly whitish and streaked with black on their breast and body below.
This bird is eating the ripe fruits of the Eugenia oleina trees that are purposely planted throughout the park to attract many forms of wildlife.

Starlings or Perlings as they are generally called are social birds, flocking together and roosting in large numbers.

Birds of a feather flock together.