European Starling

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.

Videos

Images

Credit: Larry Bond

Distribution Maps

European Starling distribution map

European Starling winter distribution map