Medium-sized starling with a thin black bandit’s mask and a dull grayish-pink chest. Northern birds in Myanmar and far southern China have dark irises and bicolored orange-and-black bills, while southern birds in mainland Southeast Asia have white irises and plain yellow bills; two populations are sometimes treated as different species. Flashing white wing patches are most prominent in flight. Like many other starlings, typically encountered in pairs and flocks in forest edge, agricultural fields, and open scrubby or grassy areas. Gives loud grating and chattering calls.