European Starling
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.
© Dan Vickers | Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, April 25, 2017Nonbreeding 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.
© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, March 27, 2010Breeding 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.
© Matthew D. Medler | Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 03, 2015Not all videos have soundJuvenile
Juveniles are pale brown overall with a dark bill. Adult feathers with white tips are growing in on the flanks of this individual.
© Walter Marcisz | Macaulay LibraryIllinois, July 24, 2017Juvenile
Juveniles are pale brown overall. Note new feathers growing in on the back of this individual.
© Wendy Wright | Macaulay LibraryTexas, May 21, 2016Nonbreeding adult
Walks quickly, in hunched posture with head down, as it forages on lawns and grassy areas.
© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 06, 2015Not all videos have soundNonbreeding 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.
© terence zahner | Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 05, 2017Flock
Forms large flocks coordinating their movements with the flockmates nearest them, in a giant cloud called a murmuration.
© Christoph Moning | Macaulay LibraryBurgenland, September 25, 2011Nonbreeding 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.
© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryNew York, December 11, 2015Not all videos have soundFlock
Gathers in large, noisy flocks during nonbreeding season, sometimes with blackbirds, grackles, and cowbirds.
© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 22, 2014Not all videos have sound