7-12-2025 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

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 gregarious bird, especially in autumn and winter, forming large flocks known as murmurations. These flocks are thought to be a defense against predators. On the ground, starlings forage in groups, often following grazing animals to feed on disturbed invertebrates.

The Common Starling's song is a varied mix of melodic and mechanical sounds, including mimicked noises from other bird species and the environment. Males sing to attract mates and defend their territory. Calls include a harsh alarm scream and a variety of social chatters.

Breeding occurs in the spring and summer, with the female laying four to five glossy, pale blue eggs in a nest built within a natural or artificial cavity. Both parents share incubation duties, and the young fledge after about three weeks.

Omnivorous, the Common Starling's diet includes a wide range of invertebrates, seeds, and fruit. They employ various foraging techniques, such as probing the ground and catching flying insects.

19-11-2025 CAMPO DE ARROZ, SOLLANA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

European starlings are social, iridescent birds known for their ability to mimic a wide range of sounds and for forming massive flocks called murmurations. They are omnivores, eating insects, fruits, and seeds, and are highly adaptable to various environments, including urban areas. Originally from Eurasia, they were introduced to North America in 1890 and are now a widespread and common species there, where they are considered invasive and can outcompete native birds for nesting sites. 

Their glossy black feathers have an iridescent sheen of purple and green. In winter, new feathers have white tips that wear off by spring, leaving them speckled.

The bill is dark in winter and turns bright yellow during the breeding season. Males have a blue base to their bill, while females have a pink base.

They are stocky birds, typically 8-9 inches long with a wingspan of about 16 inches. 

They are famous for forming large, synchronized flocks that create spectacular aerial displays, which can help protect them from predators.

12-11-2025 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

European starlings are social, iridescent birds known for their ability to mimic a wide range of sounds and for forming massive flocks called murmurations. They are omnivores, eating insects, fruits, and seeds, and are highly adaptable to various environments, including urban areas. Originally from Eurasia, they were introduced to North America in 1890 and are now a widespread and common species there, where they are considered invasive and can outcompete native birds for nesting sites. 

Their glossy black feathers have an iridescent sheen of purple and green. In winter, new feathers have white tips that wear off by spring, leaving them speckled.

The bill is dark in winter and turns bright yellow during the breeding season. Males have a blue base to their bill, while females have a pink base.

They are stocky birds, typically 8-9 inches long with a wingspan of about 16 inches. 

They are famous for forming large, synchronized flocks that create spectacular aerial displays, which can help protect them from predators.

25-10-2024 CREU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

The Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song. Its gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare.

 The Сommon starling is a medium-sized bird. It has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of the year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer. Juveniles are grey-brown and by their first winter resemble adults though often retaining some brown juvenile feathering, especially on the head. They can usually be sexed by the color of the irises, rich brown in males, mouse-brown, or grey in females.

Common starlings are native to Eurasia and are found throughout Europe, northern Africa (from Morocco to Egypt), India (mainly in the north but regularly extending further south and extending into the Maldives) Nepal, the Middle East including Syria, Iran, and Iraq and north-western China. Common starlings in the south and west of Europe are mainly resident, although other populations migrate from regions where the winter is harsh. Most birds from northern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine migrate southwestwards or southeastwards. In the autumn, when immigrants are arriving from eastern Europe, many of Britain's common starlings are setting off for Iberia and North Africa. Common starlings prefer urban or suburban areas, reedbeds, grassy areas such as farmland, grazing pastures, playing fields, golf courses, and airfields where short grass makes foraging easy. They occasionally inhabit open forests and woodlands and are sometimes found in shrubby areas. These birds are also found in coastal areas, where they nest and roost on cliffs and forage amongst the seaweed. 

8-10-2024 BLENNERVILLE, IRELAND - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris),

Population size

150-310 Mlnlnn

Life Span

2-23 years

Top speed

77

km/hmph

km/h mph 

Weight

58-101

goz

g oz 

Length

19-23

cminch

cm inch 

Wingspan

31-44

cminch

The Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song. Its gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare.

 The Сommon starling is a medium-sized bird. It has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of the year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer. Juveniles are grey-brown and by their first winter resemble adults though often retaining some brown juvenile feathering, especially on the head. They can usually be sexed by the color of the irises, rich brown in males, mouse-brown, or grey in females.

Common starlings are native to Eurasia and are found throughout Europe, northern Africa (from Morocco to Egypt), India (mainly in the north but regularly extending further south and extending into the Maldives) Nepal, the Middle East including Syria, Iran, and Iraq and north-western China. Common starlings in the south and west of Europe are mainly resident, although other populations migrate from regions where the winter is harsh. Most birds from northern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine migrate southwestwards or southeastwards. In the autumn, when immigrants are arriving from eastern Europe, many of Britain's common starlings are setting off for Iberia and North Africa. Common starlings prefer urban or suburban areas, reedbeds, grassy areas such as farmland, grazing pastures, playing fields, golf courses, and airfields where short grass makes foraging easy. They occasionally inhabit open forests and woodlands and are sometimes found in shrubby areas. These birds are also found in coastal areas, where they nest and roost on cliffs and forage amongst the seaweed.

6-10-2024 GLIN, LIMERICK - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

The Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song. Its gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare.

The Сommon starling is a medium-sized bird. It has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of the year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer. Juveniles are grey-brown and by their first winter resemble adults though often retaining some brown juvenile feathering, especially on the head. They can usually be sexed by the color of the irises, rich brown in males, mouse-brown, or grey in females.

Common starlings are native to Eurasia and are found throughout Europe, northern Africa (from Morocco to Egypt), India (mainly in the north but regularly extending further south and extending into the Maldives) Nepal, the Middle East including Syria, Iran, and Iraq and north-western China. Common starlings in the south and west of Europe are mainly resident, although other populations migrate from regions where the winter is harsh. Most birds from northern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine migrate southwestwards or southeastwards. In the autumn, when immigrants are arriving from eastern Europe, many of Britain's common starlings are setting off for Iberia and North Africa. Common starlings prefer urban or suburban areas, reedbeds, grassy areas such as farmland, grazing pastures, playing fields, golf courses, and airfields where short grass makes foraging easy. They occasionally inhabit open forests and woodlands and are sometimes found in shrubby areas. These birds are also found in coastal areas, where they nest and roost on cliffs and forage amongst the seaweed.

7-4-2024 CASTELLDEFELS, BARCELONA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) NIKON P950

Common starlings are native to Eurasia and are found throughout Europe, northern Africa (from Morocco to Egypt), India (mainly in the north but regularly extending further south and extending into the Maldives) Nepal, the Middle East including Syria, Iran, and Iraq and north-western China. Common starlings in the south and west of Europe are mainly resident, although other populations migrate from regions where the winter is harsh. Most birds from northern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine migrate southwestwards or southeastwards. In the autumn, when immigrants are arriving from eastern Europe, many of Britain's common starlings are setting off for Iberia and North Africa. Common starlings prefer urban or suburban areas, reedbeds, grassy areas such as farmland, grazing pastures, playing fields, golf courses, and airfields where short grass makes foraging easy. They occasionally inhabit open forests and woodlands and are sometimes found in shrubby areas. These birds are also found in coastal areas, where they nest and roost on cliffs and forage amongst the seaweed.

8-11-2023 CRU DE LONGA, ALBUFERA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), also known as the European starling in North America and simply as the starling in Great Britain and Ireland, is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is about 20 cm (8 in) long and has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song. Its gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare.

The common starling has about 12 subspecies breeding in open habitats across its native range in temperate Europe and across the Palearctic to western Mongolia, and it has been introduced as an invasive species to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa and Fiji. This bird is resident in western and southern Europe and southwestern Asia, while northeastern populations migrate south and west in the winter within the breeding range and also further south to Iberia and North Africa. The common starling builds an untidy nest in a natural or artificial cavity in which four or five glossy, pale blue eggs are laid. These take two weeks to hatch and the young remain in the nest for another three weeks. There are normally one or two breeding attempts each year. This species is omnivorous, taking a wide range of invertebrates, as well as seeds and fruit. It is hunted by various mammals and birds of prey, and is host to a range of external and internal parasites.

Large flocks typical of this species can be beneficial to agriculture by controlling invertebrate pests; however, starlings can also be pests themselves when they feed on fruit and sprouting crops. Common starlings may also be a nuisance through the noise and mess caused by their large urban roosts. Introduced populations in particular have been subjected to a range of controls, including culling, but these have had limited success, except in preventing the colonisation of Western Australia.

The species has declined in numbers in parts of northern and western Europe since the 1980s due to fewer grassland invertebrates being available as food for growing chicks. Despite this, its huge global population is not thought to be declining significantly, so the common starling is classified as being of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

16-11-2022 BONAIRE, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris

1-11-2022 MUNTANYETA DEL SANTS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris

3-2-2022 OLIVA PLAYA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris

2-2-2022 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris

16-1-2022 BELLUS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris

21-12-2021 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris

 

14-12-2021 SOLLANA, ALBUFERA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris

12-12-2021 LLUTXENT, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris

1-12-2021 MARJAL DE INTERIOR, ALBUFERA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris

17-11-2021 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris

 

12-3-2021 PINEDO, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris

 

27-12-2020 SOLLANA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris