White-cheeked starlings are 24 cm in length.
The adult male is mainly dark grey-brown with a paler belly and a whitish band across the rump.
The head is blackish with whitish cheeks and forehead.
There is a white border to the tail and white markings on the secondary wing feathers.
The legs are pale orange and the bill is orange with a black tip.
Adult females are similar to the males but paler and duller.

The juvenile is brown with pale cheeks and rump and no black tip to the bill.

The loud, monotonous call is a series of harsh, creaking notes.
White-cheeked starlings are 24 cm in length. The adult male is mainly dark grey-brown with a paler belly and a whitish band across the rump. The head is blackish with whitish cheeks and forehead. There is a white border to the tail and white markings on the secondary wing feathers. The legs are pale orange and the bill is orange with a black tip. Adult females are similar to the males but paler and duller.
The juvenile is brown with pale cheeks and rump and no black tip to the bill.
The loud, monotonous call is a series of harsh, creaking notes.
White-cheeked starling