Asian Pied Starling Expands Habitat to Perumbakkam Lake in Chennai

The Asian pied starling continues its expansion across Chennai, now nesting at Perumbakkam lake along Medavakkam-Mambakkam Main Road. These birds have built distinctive, rounded nests in a lifeless tree near the lake, indicating the presence of chicks.

This species, first sighted in the Ram Nagar swamps of Madipakkam in 2018, has adapted to various waterbodies and wetlands in the region, including Pallikaranai marsh, Korattur lake, and Nanmangalam lake. Unlike the common myna, the Asian pied starling prefers nesting near water, demonstrating a selective nesting behavior as it establishes new habitats in the city.