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| StarlingsStarlingSturnus vulgaris |
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En. Starling, Da. Stær, Du. Spreeuw, Fi. Kottarainen, Fr. Etourneau sansonnet, Ge. Star, It. Storno, No. Stær, Sp. Estornino pinto, Sw. Stare
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(many
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adults, West Sussex, June.
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juvenille running, Yorkshire, October.
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summer adult, West Sussex, June.
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(the
text below is an abridged version of the extensive birdfile feature
available in full on all our CD-ROM
Guides)
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Starlings have mainly black bodies and yellow bills like Blackbirds but they are smaller and fatter with more pointed heads and longer, more pointed wings. Their plumage is always speckled although in summer the markings on the breast are replaced by iridescent tones of green and blue. Juveniles start off as plain brown with a black bill and characteristic shape. |
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Breeds in towns, woods, parks, and on farms. Winters in cities, gardens and farmland. |
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A common resident bird everywhere except in northern Scotland, with the population being swelled by huge numbers from the continent in winter. |
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One of the commonest European birds, although they have declined in the north of their range. |
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| An estimated 1 100 000 territories throughout Britain, but rare in the Scottish Highlands. In Ireland a further 360 000 territories are estimated. Continental visitors during winter can increase this figure to around 37 000 000 birds. |
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| 35-50 million breeding pairs across most of Europe except Spain, southern Italy and Greece. |
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©BirdGuides
1999
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