The Common Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, is a medium-sized passerine bird characterized by its glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen. Throughout the year, the plumage is speckled with white, though less so during the breeding season. Adults measure approximately 20 cm in length, with pink legs and a seasonally changing bill color—black in winter and yellow in summer. Juveniles display browner plumage compared to adults.
To identify the Common Starling, look for its iridescent black feathers, which may appear purple or green when reflecting light. The bird's bill is black in the winter and transitions to yellow in the summer, aiding in identification. The starling's flight is strong and direct, with pointed wings that are distinctive in the air. On the ground, its waddling gait is notable.
Common Starlings are highly adaptable, favoring urban and suburban areas where they find ample nesting and roosting opportunities. They also inhabit grasslands, such as farmlands and pastures, where short grass makes foraging for invertebrates easier.Native to temperate Europe and western Asia, the Common Starling has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, North America, and other regions. Its range extends from Europe to northern Africa and across the Palearctic to western Mongolia.
The common starling is a highly gregarious species, especially in autumn and winter. Although flock size is highly variable, huge, noisy flocks (murmurations) may form near roosts. These dense concentrations of birds are thought to be a defence against attacks by birds of prey such as peregrine falcons or Eurasian sparrowhawks. Flocks form a tight sphere-like formation in flight, frequently expanding and contracting and changing shape, seemingly without any sort of leader. Each common starling changes its course and speed as a result of the movement of its closest neighbours.
Very large roosts, up to 1.5 million birds, form in city centres, woodlands and reedbeds, causing problems with their droppings. These may accumulate up to 30 cm (12 in) deep, killing trees by their concentration of chemicals. In smaller amounts, the droppings act as a fertiliser, and therefore woodland managers may try to move roosts from one area of a wood to another to benefit from the soil enhancement and avoid large toxic deposits.
