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26

Common Starling

(Sturnus vulgaris)
Alternate name(s): "Starling", "European Starling"
German name(s): "Star"

Size: 19-23 cm; wing span 31-44 cm
Weight: 60-100 g

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Common Starling at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

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 .

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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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.