European Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

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Identification

Field notes

22 cm (8-9") Introduced from Europe in the late 1800's now abundant throughout North America. Cities, towns, parks, farms, open country. Adaptive, gregarious, aggressive, short tailed "black-bird" that competes with native birds for nesting holes.

Spring: adult is iridescent in breeding plumage with a yellowish bill.

In winter: bill is black and plumage is heavily speckled.

In flight; direct with brownish triangular wings.

Song: squeaky notes.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Larry Bond

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Common Starling or European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) / Star [1]

Credit: Michael Billerbeck - Birds & Nature

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 3 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

European Starling

2 rules

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 7

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall

result:763-european-starling:1:1 Source: 763 European Starling, row 1

Rule 2 17 criteria confidence 7

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What Color were the UNDERTAIL COVERTS ?: Black, dark gray or dark · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Fall · Winter

result:763-european-starling:2:1 Source: 763 European Starling, row 2

European Starling (Immature)

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 6

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:764-european-starling-immature:1:1 Source: 764 European Starling (Immature), row 1