European Starling
European Starling
Adult breeding
- Overall glossy black, showing iridescent purple and green
- Pale spots on back
- Brownish wings
- Yellow bill with bluish base
- © lee.karney2, CA, San Francisco, June 2006
European Starling
Adult nonbreeding
- Overall glossy black, showing iridescent purple and green
- Bright white spots all over
- Short, square tail
- Black and white undertail
- © Robinsegg, UT, Salt Lake City, January 2008
European Starling
Juvenile
- Dull grayish brown overall
- Short tail, fairly long wings
- Straight, black bill
- © JoanGeeAZ, AZ, Tucson, May 2008
European Starling
Transitional juvenile
- Gray-brown head retained temporarily by juveniles molting into adult plumage
- Body plumage similar to adult
- © Cheri Fisher, August 2005
European Starling
Adult nonbreeding
- Overall glossy, iridescent black
- Bright white spots all over
- Bill yellow or black in nonbreeding plumage
- © J.M. Kosciw, CT, Tolland Co, February 2007
European Starling
Adult nonbreeding
- Pale spots on face
- Straight, black bill
- Nests and roosts in cavities
- © JoanGeeAZ, AZ, Tucson, October 2008
European Starling
Adult transitional
- White feather tips wear off to give breeding plumage; birds are often seen partway through this transition
- Short tail, fairly long wings
- Yellow bill with bluish base
- © Sam Wilson, AZ, Scottsdale, January 2009
European Starling
Adult breeding
- Overall glossy black, showing iridescent purple and green
- Yellow bill with bluish base
- Pink legs
- © Sam Wilson, AZ, Scottsdale, April 2008
European Starling
Adult transitional
- Overall glossy black, showing iridescent purple and green
- Some white spots retained from nonbreeding plumage
- © Sam Wilson, AZ, Scottsdale, February 2007
European Starling
Adult nonbreeding
- Overall glossy black
- Bright white spots all over
- Face with dense spotting, appearing pale
- Black bill (may be yellow later in winter)
- © Seth Reams, OR, Portland, December 2008
European Starling
Adult breeding
- Overall glossy black, showing iridescent purple and green
- Sleek, compact shape
- Short, square tail
- Black and white undertail
- © Donald Metzner, December 2008
European Starling
Adult transitional
- Some white spots retained from nonbreeding plumage
- © Kevin Carver, December 2005
European Starling
Adults nonbreeding
- Glossy black overall with bright white spots
- Brownish wings
- © Rebecca Covert, December 2005
European Starling
Adults nonbreeding
- Congregate in large flocks
- © David F. Smith, January 2008
European Starling
Adults
- Gray wing and tail feathers contrast with black body
- Short tail, pointed wings
- © Jeff & Cheryl Hurd, NY, Horseheads, March 2006
European Starling
Adult nonbreeding
- Overall glossy black, showing iridescent purple and green
- Bright white spots all over
- © L. Massman, June 2008
Similar Species
Adult male
- Similar to breeding European Starling
- Yellow eye
- Thicker, shorter bill
- Longer tail
- © Laura Erickson, Santa Barbara, CA, August 2005
Adult male
- Similar to breeding European Starling
- Brown head
- Thicker, shorter bill
- Longer legs
- © ashockenberry, Ontario, Canada, September 2008
Adult female
- Similar to immature starling
- Thicker, shorter bill
- Longer tail
- © Beth Graham, Woodstown, NJ, February 2009
Adult male
- Similar to adult European Starling
- Glossy overall (may show blue, green, and purple)
- Yellow eye
- Large size, very long, large tail
- Large, heavy bill
- © Jim Gilbert, NJ, October 2008
Adult male nonbreeding
- Similar to nonbreeding starling
- Yellow eye
- Thicker, shorter bill
- Longer tail
- © Jim Gilbert, NJ, October 2008
Adult female
- Similar to nonbreeding starling
- Very brown and streaky overall
- Thicker, shorter bill
- Longer tail
- © Matt MacGillivray, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, April 2008
Immature male
- Similar to nonbreeding starling
- Usually red or yellowish on shoulder (may be mostly obscured)
- Thicker, shorter bill
- Longer tail
- Legs always dark
- © Darin Ziegler, Colorado Springs, CO, October 2008
Adult male
- Similar to breeding European Starling
- Red and yellow wing patches
- Thicker, shorter bill
- Longer tail
- © Laura Erickson, May 2005