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Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Alternate name(s): "Starling", "European Starling" German name(s): "Star" Size: 19-23 cm; wing span 31-42 cm Body mass: 60-96 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.31-0.43

Europe: Family Group 26 Family Group 26 Table Crested Lark Thekla's Lark Zitting Cisticola Great Reed Warbler Eurasian Reed Warbler Sedge Warbler Marsh Warbler Savi's Warbler Icterine Warbler Melodious Warbler Cetti's Warbler Moustached Warbler Redwing Fieldfare Mistle Thrush Song Thrush Ring Ouzel Common Blackbird Common Starling Spotless Starling Rosy Starling Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Common Starlings are about the size of a Common Blackbird. The two sexes are alike, but their plumage varies between breeding season and eclipse. In the breeding season they are glossy black with purple and/or greenish hues, depending on the infalling light. There are only sparse silvery speckles, mostly on the back and the flanks. Especially the wing coverts may show a greenish sheen. The only difference between the sexes is that during the breeding season the bill of females is yellow with a pale base. Males have a blue-grey base to their yellow bill. In eclipse both sexes become prominently speckled all over, except the flight feathers, which then have brown edge lining. In eclipse the bill of both sexes is dark-grey. The irises are dark-brown. The legs and feet of both sexes, throughout the year, are pink. Juvenile Common Starlings are all greyish-brown, with the front being a lighter shade of grey-brown than the back and the front also lightly streaked. They have an off-white chin patch; the ear coverts and wings are the darkest shade of grey-brown. During the first winter, apart from head and neck, juveniles gradually moult into eclipse plumage, with prominent silvery-white specks in the form of inverted chevrons on the front and grey-brown specks on the back. Some grey-brown hues remain on the wings.

Taxonomy, classification See Common Starling at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Common Starling is available HERE . There are about 12 races of Common Starlings, which are a partly migratory species. Taken altogether, they populate all of Europe, including most of Scandinavia, the British Isles, the Mediterranean, plus northern Africa, the European part of Russia, the Middle East (except much of Arabia) and towards central Asia and to the Himalayas. Common Starlings are also found on Iceland and the Canary Islands. In the north-eastern part of this range they are breeding migrants, in the south-eastern part winter visitors, while in large parts of Europe they are sedentary. There are sedentary populations on the Azores and the Canary Islands as well. For details see, e.g., Wikipedia . There are introduced populations of Common Starlings in much of North America, around Buenos Aires in Argentina, in South Africa as well as south-eastern Australia and in New Zealand. In most of Europe, race "vulgaris" is found. They are permanent residents from northern Spain, the British Isles (except the Scottish highlands, where they are breeding migrants), central Europe as far North as Denmark and in most of Italy, in the Balkans and the rest of south-eastern Europe. In the summer they extend their breeding range into Scandinavia (except the highest mountain ranges and the far North), and, from the Alps eastward, into all of eastern Europe. In most of Iberia, southern Italy, the Mediterranean islands and southern Greece they are winter visitors. Common Starlings can be found in a wide variety of habitats, from woodlands, via paddocks, reeds along rivers, lakes and dams to urban centres.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "vulgaris" C. Pears reports finding Common Starlings, nominate race "vulgaris", in the Emilia Romagnia region, Italy, in May 2010. Common Starlings, race "vulgaris", were found by us e.g. near Eltville, Hessen (where they are also seen regularly by H. Dahlem-Senger and M. Thomas), and in Wittlich, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, in August 2014. J. Pires reports finding Common Starlings, race "vulgaris", semi-regularly in various locations in southern/central Portugal. D. Wilczynska reports finding Common Starlings, race "vulgaris", regularly in the area of Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland. D. Wilczynska reports also seeing Common Starlings, race "vulgaris", in Bergen, Norway, in May 2016, where they are summer breeding migrants. M. Eaton reports spotting Common Starlings, race "vulgaris", near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, in June 2018. G. Normand reports finding Common Starlings, race "vulgaris", occasionally in various parts of Paris, France. C. Pears spotted Common Starlings, race "vulgaris", in Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland, in August 2023. In October 2024, C. Pears also found Common Starlings, race "vulgaris", in Bergen, Norway. A. Sarok reports finding Common Starlings, race "vulgaris", in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024. In the past, we have seen Common Starlings, race "vulgaris", all year round basically everywhere in Germany in suitable habitats, over decades since the 1960ies. Race "granti" J. Pires reports finding Common Starlings, race "granti", on the Azores in November 2018.

Photos

Race "vulgaris"

This race is also called the "European Starling".

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Common Starling in breeding plumage - note the absence of specks on the front; the blue-grey base of the bill indicative of a male (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2015]

Male Common Starling in breeding plumage on an high perch (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2015]

Male Common Starling in breeding plumage marking its territory from an high perch (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2015]

FEMALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a female Common Starling in breeding plumage

Lateral view of a female Common Starling in breeding plumage

NON-BREEDING

Lateral view of a female Common Starling in non-breeding plumage; the fact that it is collecting food for a brood indicates that Common Starlings can and do breed in eclipse plumage (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Parc de plantes, Paris, France, April 2021]

Sex unknown

Dorsal view of a Common Starling in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, in June 2018]

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Common Starlings in transitional (centre and right) and in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2019]

Frontal view of a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Land's End, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Frontal portrait of a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Near-frontal view of a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2022]

Near-frontal view of a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2022]

Near-lateral view of a Common Starling in transitional plumage (still with lots of speckles indicating eclipse, with a grub
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Bergen, Norway, May 2016]

Near-frontal view of a Common Starling in transitional plumage (still with lots of speckles indicating eclipse), now with two grubs... (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Bergen, Norway, May 2016]

Lateral view of a Common Starling in transitional plumage (still with lots of speckles indicating eclipse, poking for food in a lawn (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Bergen, Norway, May 2016]

... and now with four; it is evident that this bird, although still largely in eclipse plumage, is feeding young
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Bergen, Norway, May 2016]

Lateral view of Common Starlings in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Embalse de Arrocampo, Caceres, Extremadura, Spain, December 2019]

Lateral view of a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2021]

Lateral view of a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Bois de Vincennes, 12th district, Paris, January 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Near-dorsal view of a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-dorsal view of two Common Starlings in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2023]

Common Starlings in eclipse plumage, feasting in a bird feeder (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2018]

Comparison between a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage, bottom, with Spotless Starlings, top; of the four Spotless Starlings, 3 are adults (still) in breeding plumage, while the bird at the upper right is in eclipse (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mertola, Alentejo, Portugal, October 2019]

Flock of Common Starlings in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of Common Starlings in a rookery moulting from juvenile into non-breeding plumage, with two adults in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland, August 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Common Starling moulting from juvenile into non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Land's End, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of Common Starlings in a rookery moulting from juvenile into non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland, August 2023]

Lateral view of Common Starlings in a rookery moulting from juvenile into non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland, August 2023]

Lateral view of juvenile Common Starlings foraging in a meadow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, June 2019]

Race "granti"

ADULT

Sex unknown

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of Common Starlings in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Horta Island, Azores, November 2018]

Near-frontal view of Common Starlings in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Horta Island, Azores, November 2018]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Common Starling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Mar - Aug

Eggs: 4 - 5

Incubation period: 13 - 14 days

Fledging age: ca. 21 days

The length of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude and can start in February in southern parts of the range.

Nest building: Male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Basket in hollow

Material: Straw, grass, twigs

Height above ground: >2? m

Common Starling at the entrance of its nest hollow in a dead tree trunk

Common Starling carrying nesting material

Eggs

Size: 30 x 21 mm

Colour: Glossy pale-blue

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Mob/flock

Migratory Common Starlings tend to form - often large - flocks, congregating prior to departure.

In central Europe, Common Starlings are partial migrants; here a flock congregating on a power line for the trek southwards (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, September 2016]

Large flock of Common Starlings congregating on power lines (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, October 2014]

Common Starlings are not exactly known for their climbing skills, but this photo shows that they can hold on to vertical walls quite well (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, April 2021]

Common Starlings taking a communal bath (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Spiekeroog, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

Food, Diet

Common Starlings feeding together with House Sparrows (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Land's End, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Common Starling in non-breeding plumage taking fat from a bird feeder (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

star_ls_20210130.m4a	vulgaris (Germany)	Flock going to roost	© LS
star_dw_20160916.m4a	vulgaris (Poland)	Various	© DW
star_jp_20200520.m4a	vulgaris (Portugal)	Various	© JP
star_20150528_2.mp3		Contact calls?	© MD
star_20150528_4.mp3		Contact calls?	© MD
star_20250823.m4a		? (in-flight)	© MD
star_20150528_3.mp3		?	© MD
star_20160701.mp3		?	© MD

More Common Starling sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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