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European Starling

Sturnus vulgarisOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Starling (Sturnidae)

Breeding Location:

Open landscapes, Grassland with scattered trees, Marshes, freshwater, Swamps



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Loose colonies



Breeding Population:



Egg Color:

Pale blue or green, sometimes marked with brown



Number of Eggs:

4 - 8



Incubation Days:

12 - 14



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

Grass, twigs, forbs, rootlets, and straw.



Migration:

Northern birds migrate



Splitbar

Overview

European Starling: Small, chunky, iridescent purple and green blackbird with long, pointed yellow bill, pink legs, and short tail. The feathers on back and undertail show buff edges. Feeds in open areas, normally on the ground. Strong, direct and swift flight on rapidly beating wings.

Range and Habitat

European Starling: Native to Eurasia, but widely introduced worldwide. Occurs from Alaska and Quebec south throughout the continent to the Gulf coast and northern Mexico. Preferred habitats include cities, suburban areas, farmlands, and ranches.

Breeding and Nesting

European Starling: Four to eight pale blue or green eggs, sometimes marked with brown, are laid in a nest made of twigs, grass, forbs, straw, and trash. Nest is lined built in a natural hollow of a tree, bird box, building crevice, or abandoned woodpecker hole. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days.

Foraging and Feeding

European Starling: Eats seeds, insects, small vertebrates, centipedes, spiders, earthworms, plants, and fruits; commonly takes food discarded by humans.

Readily Eats

Cracked Corn, Nut Meats, Suet, Millet, Commercial Mixed Bird Seed

Vocalization

European Starling: Emits a series of discordant, musical, squeaky, and rasping notes; often imitates other birds. Call is a descending "whee-ee".

Similar Species

European Starling: Blackbirds, cowbirds and grackles have longer tails, slimmer bodies, dark bills, and lack white spots on head and body.

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Family Starling (Sturnidae)_blue
Species Sturnus vulgaris
Length8.5 Inches
Wingspan15.5 Inches

European Starling

European Starling: Small, chunky, iridescent purple and green blackbird with long, pointed yellow bill, pink legs, and short tail. The feathers on back and undertail show buff edges. Feeds in open areas, normally on the ground. Strong, direct and swift flight on rapidly beating wings.

● Song: "pheeEW"

● Foraging & Feeding: European Starling: Eats seeds, insects, small vertebrates, centipedes, spiders, earthworms, plants, and fruits; commonly takes food discarded by humans.

● Breeding & nesting: European Starling: Four to eight pale blue or green eggs, sometimes marked with brown, are laid in a nest made of twigs, grass, forbs, straw, and trash. Nest is lined built in a natural hollow of a tree, bird box, building crevice, or abandoned woodpecker hole. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days.

● Similar species: European Starling: Blackbirds, cowbirds and grackles have longer tails, slimmer bodies, dark bills, and lack white spots on head and body.

Flight Pattern

Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats.
European Starling Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: European Starling: Native to Eurasia, but widely introduced worldwide. Occurs from Alaska and Quebec south throughout the continent to the Gulf coast and northern Mexico. Preferred habitats include cities, suburban areas, farmlands, and ranches.
BreedingMonogamous, Loose colonies
Population
MigrationNorthern birds migrate
Weight3 Ounces