Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
The noisy, messy starling is often an unwelcome guest at the bird table thanks to its habit of arriving in a great flock and eating all the food. However, this remarkable bird – famous for its spectacular mass aerial displays before roosting for the night – is actually in serious decline and on the RSPB ‘Red’ at risk list. So console yourself when your bird table is emptied that you are doing your bit to conserve a special bird for the future!
Description: From a distance the Starling looks black, but in fact has iridescent purple, green and blue plumage, speckled with white in winter. Females have more speckling than the male. It is about 8 ½ in (22 cm) tall and walks with a jerky movement. It feeds in groups during the day and often creates huge flocks in the evening. The Starling is a noisy bird, often mimicking other birds and even car alarms.
Nesting and breeding: The breeding season lasts from April to June, with 1 or 2 broods. Starlings often breed in colonies, with the male building a messy nest of leaves and grass in a hole in trees, buildings or cliffs. The female lays 5-7 pale blue eggs which hatch after 13 days. Both adults then feed the young who leave the nest after about 21 days.

Where to see them


What they eat
