European Starling Photo Gallery

Breeding adult

Chunky and blackbird-sized, but with a short tail and a long, slender bill. In flight their wings are short and pointed. Breeding birds are dark overall with purplish-green iridescent and yellow bills.

Nonbreeding adult/immature

Chunky dark bird with a finely pointed bill. Nonbreeding birds have spots on their back and underparts. The bill is dark in winter, but begins to turn yellow as breeding season approaches.

Breeding adult

Makes a bewildering variety of sounds, from thin whistles to rattles to imitations of birds, including Red-tailed Hawks, American Robins, and many others.

Juvenile

Juveniles are pale brown overall with a dark bill. Adult feathers with white tips are growing in on the flanks of this individual.

Juvenile

Juveniles are pale brown overall.

Nonbreeding adult

Walks quickly, in hunched posture with head down, as it forages on lawns and grassy areas.

Breeding adult

Native to Europe, but introduced into New York's Central Park in the late 1890s, European Starling is one of North America's most common birds, with an estimated 200 million individuals.

Nonbreeding adult/immature

New feathers grown in the fall have bold white tips, giving birds a spotted appearance. By spring, these tips have worn away, and the rest of the feather is dark and iridescent brown.

Nonbreeding adults

Forms very large flocks in winter, sometimes with other species including blackbirds, grackles, and cowbirds. Note spotted plumage and blackish bills, characteristic of fresh winter plumage.

Nonbreeding adult

Nests in holes in trees, birdhouses, or other artificial structures with holes or crevices. Nonbreeding adults are spotted above and below. The bill color changes from black to yellow and the spots are lost as the breeding season nears.