v14i1.360

eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v14i1.360

Submitted date: 15 February 2025
Accepted date: 21 April 2025
Published date: 31 May 2025
Pp. 85–87.

Escaping the cage: Range expansion of the grosbeak starling in Borneo

Mukhlisi, D.A. Putra, T. Atmoko, R. Garsetiasih & S. Hadi
*Corresponding author. E-mail: mukhlisi.arkan@gmail.com

The grosbeak starling (Scissirostrum dubium), also known as the finch-billed Myna, is an endemic bird species of Sulawesi and several surrounding satellite islands. It is distinctive among starlings in having a thick yellow bill and stiff, waxy red feathers on the rump. According to the IUCN Red List, this species is currently classified as Least Concern (LC), but its global population is declining due to habitat destruction, fragmentation, and illegal hunting. One of the major threats is the loss of suitable nesting sites, as trees are essential for providing shelter and breeding grounds. A study conducted in Central Sulawesi even found a population collapse, with 92% of nests disappearing due to the loss of remnant trees.

Section Editor: Richard A. Noske