European Starling Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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New York, March 31, 1960Recorded by Peter Paul Kellogg / Macaulay Library
Song
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Maryland, April 09, 2015Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Song
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Noord-Holland, April 07, 1986Recorded by Arnoud B. van den Berg / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, September 18, 2019Recorded by Brad Walker / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Suðurland, June 06, 2018Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, April 17, 2019Recorded by Brad Walker / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, April 14, 2016Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Juvenile calls
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Colorado, May 20, 2012Recorded by Nathan Pieplow
Flock calls
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Leinster, May 31, 2009Recorded by Matthew D. Medler / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

Starlings are relatives of the mynah birds, and like them they have impressive vocal abilities and a gift for mimicry. They can warble, whistle, chatter, make smooth liquid sounds, harsh trills and rattles, and imitate meadowlarks, jays, and hawks. The songs tend to consist of either loud whistles or softer, jumbled warbling. Whistled songs are a few seconds long, often used between males. Warbled songs can go on for more than a minute, and seem mainly directed at females. Males sing several varieties of each of these two classes of songs. Females also sing, particularly in the fall. Songs often include imitations of other birds, including Eastern Wood-Pewee, Killdeer, meadowlarks, Northern Bobwhite, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Flicker, and others.

Calls

Male and female starlings use about 10 kinds of calls to communicate about where they are, whether there’s danger around, and how aggressive or agitated they feel. Among these are a purr-like call given as the bird takes flight, and a rattle that starlings make as they join a flock on the ground. Two types of screamlike calls indicate aggression and are often accompanied by flapping wings: one is a chattering call (described as chackerchackerchacker); the other is a high-pitched trill. Starlings also make metallic chip notes to other flock members and when harassing or mobbing predators.

Other Sounds

Male starlings sometimes clack or rattle their bills as part of their warbled song.

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