26 |
![]() |
Common StarlingAlternate name(s): "Starling", "European Starling" ![]() Size: 19-23 cm; wing span 31-44 cm Weight: 60-100 g |
![]() |
Similar |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
|
||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
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]
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 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 |
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]
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 |
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_20150528_3.mp3 | ? | © MD | ||
star_20160701.mp3 | ? | © MD |
More Common Starling sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.