The starling was @SpeciesofUK from 30th
June to 6th July, 2013.
The UK's starling, Sturnus
vulgaris, is also known as the Common Starling or European Starling.[1] It is one of 114 starling
species worldwide, all members of the Sturnidae
family.[2]
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| The Common Starling [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © David A. Hofmann] |
The starling has spread right around
the world, both naturally and by man’s intervention.
The starling’s natural range extends across Europe and Asia. Within this
range there are around a dozen subspecies. It has also been introduced to
America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.[3]
The starling was introduced to the USA in 1890-91 when one hundred
individuals were released in New York's Central Park. Of these, fifteen pairs
survived and established the species in North America.[4]
The starling is a widespread species in the UK, with the exception of
the highest parts of the Scottish Highlands. It's most abundant in southern
England and least common in upland moors.[5]
Unfortunately, starlings have recently suffered from a dramatic
population crash in the UK. They're still pretty common in gardens, but numbers
have dropped by a catastrophic 92% in woodlands.[6]
They are noisy little creatures.
The starling is famous for its extraordinary range of vocalisations. It
warbles, chuckles, whistles, snarls creaks, chips, chirrups and gurgles![7]
The only time of the year when starlings are not making a racket is when
they are moulting.[8]
Most famously, the starling is also a very accomplished mimic. They
often copy the sounds of other birds, animals and even mechanical sounds.[9]
In the USA, starlings are occasionally kept as pets. In close proximity
to humans, they learn to mimic all sorts of things. Here, a ringtone:
Starlings are not just noisy, they are
garish and brash all round.
The starling stands slightly smaller than a blackbird. It has a short
tail, a pointed head and triangular wings which it uses for a fast flight.[10]
This is a marvellous slo-mo video of a starling taking off in flight:
The starling has a very distinctive 'confident' gait when it walks or runs on the
ground.[11]
From a distance the starling looks a dull black but up close they are
glossy with an incredible sheen of purples and greens.[12]
 |
| An Iridescent Starling [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © Sergey Yeliseev] |
The summer plumage is made up of iridescent green glossed feathers
covering the back, nape, and breast. The wings occasionally have a veneer of
green and purple.[13]
 |
| Summer Plumage [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © ajmatthehiddenhouse] |
In winter the starling has a cream-coloured 'flecking' against a black
background. This happens when the tips of the feathers have eroded away.[14] The number of starlings
in the UK swells in the winter as continental starlings come here for an
excursion.[15]
 |
| Winter Plumage [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © phenolog] |
Overall male and female starlings look similar. But males have elongated
feathers over breast and a bluish spot at the base of their bill.[16]
 |
| Male Starling with bluish base to bill [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © K Schneider] |
Starlings are at their most spectacular
in their flocks…
The starling is very gregarious. They feed, roost and migrate in flocks.
Large roosts occur in plantations, reed beds and cities.[17]
When starlings flock before they roost, it's called a 'murmuration.'
It's an astonishing sight. In fact, it’s not too strong to say that a starling
murmuration is THE wildlife spectacle in the UK.
Now used to describe the aerial display, 'murmuration' originally
referred to the sound of wings rippling through the starling flock.[18]
 |
| A Starling Murmuration [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © ad551] |
 |
| A Small Starling Murmuration on the Coast [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © SteveMcN] |
Sorry, I can't resist, here's another murmuration video!
Starling courtship is also impressive,
if somewhat comic.
The male starling uses a "wing-waving" action to attract
females. They also sing in or near their nests, which they have decorated to
impress her.[19]
Here is a video of a male starling's mating call:
When the female starling is fertile, her mate will keep close tabs on
his competitors and follow the female everywhere she goes.[20]
In April, starlings can be seen with tufts of grass/feathers, building
their nests in all sorts of natural or man-made cavities.[21]
They are omnivorous. Starlings take a wide variety of invertebrates as
well as seeds and fruit.[22]
The fledgling starling is completely different to the adult. It’s a light
brown.
 |
| Fledgling Starling [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © C.A. Mullhaupt] |
By end of May, juvenile starlings can be seen everywhere chasing their parents
around in hope of a feed. They are noticeably less cautious than blackbirds of
the same age.[23]
Juvenile starlings slowly gain the plumage of their parents. Early on,
the fine gloss of the adults is not as noticeable, the bill is brownish-black,
and they have more rounded tips at their wings.[24]
 |
| Juvenile Starling [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © Edwyn Anderton] |
Strange but true…
The Shetland Starling, Sturnus
vulgaris zetlandicus, is a subspecies of the starling. They have a darker
juvenile plumage and a broader bill-base.[25]
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