Description Common starling

a young juvenile perching on table in london. plumage grey-brown

the common starling 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) long, wingspan of 31–44 cm (12–17 in) , weight of 58–101 g (2.0–3.6 oz). among standard measurements, wing chord 11.8 13.8 cm (4.6 5.4 in), tail 5.8 6.8 cm (2.3 2.7 in), culmen 2.5 3.2 cm (0.98 1.26 in) , tarsus 2.7 3.2 cm (1.1 1.3 in). plumage iridescent black, glossed purple or green, , spangled white, in winter. underparts of adult male common starlings less spotted of adult females @ given time of year. throat feathers of males long , loose , used in display while of females smaller , more pointed. legs stout , pinkish- or greyish-red. bill narrow , conical sharp tip; in winter brownish-black in summer, females have lemon yellow beaks while males have yellow bills blue-grey bases. moulting occurs once year- in late summer after breeding season has finished; fresh feathers prominently tipped white (breast feathers) or buff (wing , feathers), gives bird speckled appearance. reduction in spotting in breeding season achieved through white feather tips largely wearing off. juveniles grey-brown , first winter resemble adults though retaining brown juvenile feathering, on head. can sexed colour of irises, rich brown in males, mouse-brown or grey in females. estimating contrast between iris , central always-dark pupil 97% accurate in determining sex, rising 98% if length of throat feathers considered. common starling mid-sized both starling standards , passerine standards. readily distinguished other mid-sized passerines, such thrushes, icterids or small corvids, relatively short tail, sharp, blade-like bill, round-bellied shape , strong, sizeable (and rufous-coloured) legs. in flight, pointed wings , dark colouration distinctive, while on ground strange, waddling gait characteristic. colouring , build distinguish bird other starlings, although closely related spotless starling may physically distinguished lack of iridescent spots in adult breeding plumage.

an immature in california. has partly moulted first-winter plumage; however, juvenile brown plumage prominent on head , neck

like terrestrial starlings common starling moves walking or running, rather hopping. flight quite strong , direct; triangular-shaped wings beat rapidly, , periodically birds glide short way without losing height before resuming powered flight. when in flock, birds take off simultaneously, wheel , turn in unison, form compact mass or trail off wispy stream, bunch again , land in coordinated fashion. common starling on migration can fly @ 60–80 km/h (37–50 mph) , cover 1,000–1,500 km (620–930 mi).

several terrestrial starlings, including in genus sturnus, have adaptations of skull , muscles feeding probing. adaptation developed in common starling (along spotless , white-cheeked starlings), protractor muscles responsible opening jaw enlarged , skull narrow, allowing eye moved forward peer down length of bill. technique involves inserting bill ground , opening way of searching hidden food items. common starlings have physical traits enable them use feeding technique, has undoubtedly helped species spread far , wide.

in iberia, western mediterranean , northwest africa, common starling may confused closely related spotless starling, plumage of which, name implies, has more uniform colour. @ close range can seen latter has longer throat feathers, fact particularly noticeable when sings.

voice


the song of common starling




chattering calls of group



adult male singing , displaying long throat feathers



singing sturnus vulgaris, spring creek park, new york, usa.

the common starling noisy bird. song consists of wide variety of both melodic , mechanical-sounding noises part of ritual succession of sounds. male main songster , engages in bouts of song lasting minute or more. each of these typically includes 4 varieties of song type, follow each other in regular order without pause. bout starts series of pure-tone whistles , these followed main part of song, number of variable sequences incorporate snatches of song mimicked other species of bird , various naturally occurring or man-made noises. structure , simplicity of sound mimicked of greater importance frequency occurs. in instances, wild starling has been observed mimic sound has heard once. each sound clip repeated several times before bird moves on next. after variable section comes number of types of repeated clicks followed final burst of high-frequency song, again formed of several types. each bird has own repertoire more proficient birds having range of 35 variable song types , many 14 types of clicks.

males sing breeding period approaches , perform less once pairs have bonded. in presence of female, male flies nest , sings entrance, apparently attempting entice female in. older birds tend have wider repertoire younger ones. males engage in longer bouts of singing , have wider repertoires attract mates earlier , have greater reproductive success others. females appear prefer mates more complex songs, perhaps because indicates greater experience or longevity. having complex song useful in defending territory , deterring less experienced males encroaching.

singing occurs outside breeding season, taking place throughout year apart moulting period. songsters more commonly male although females sing on occasion. function of such out-of-season song poorly understood. eleven other types of call have been described including flock call, threat call, attack call, snarl call , copulation call. alarm call harsh scream, , while foraging common starlings squabble incessantly. chatter while roosting , bathing, making great deal of noise can cause irritation people living nearby. when flock of common starlings flying together, synchronised movements of birds wings make distinctive whooshing sound can heard hundreds of metres (yards) away.