Common Starling - Sturnus vulgaris

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Order : Passeriformes

Family : Sturnidae ;

Biometrics :

Size : 21 à 23 cm
Wingspan : 31 à 40 cm
Weight : 60 à 96 g

Longevity : 15 years

IUCN conservation status :

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

Geographic range :

Synonyms : Obyknovenny Skvorets (ru), Stare (sv), Estornino pinto (es), Storno (it), Star (al), Spreeuw (nl), Common Starling (en)

Physical description :
Common Starling in breeding plumage has iridescent black feathers. We can see glossy purplish and greenish feathers in all parts of its body. It appears as a blackbird, but it has short, square-tipped tail, and triangular pointed wings. Wings and tail are dark. Bill is yellow with blue base in male, pinkish in female.
In fall plumage, feathers are tipped white and buff and the bird gets a speckled plumage. Bill turns dark grey-brown or black. Eyes are dark brown. Legs and feet are reddish-brow.
Both sexes are similar but female appears more heavily spotted than male and has paler eyes. Male has larger feathers than female.
Juvenile is dull grey-brown. Moulting birds have grey and black patches in fall.
Chicks are covered with sparse greyish-white down, and grow rapidly.

Voice :
Sound from CD 'Tous les Oiseaux d'Europe' by Jean C. Roché by courtesy of Sittelle and CEBA. Common Starling taking off utters a harsh, buzzing, descending 'tcheerr'. Alarm call is a hard 'kyik' and a harsh 'schaarh', both repeated.
Common Starling's song is a highly varied medley of chirps, clicks, creaks, warbles and gurgles, alternating with clear whistles often descending 'wheeeeeeoooooo'.
They are able to mimic the sounds of other birds, or even mechanical sounds included into their songs.

Habitat : Common Starling lives in very varied habitats, open woodlands, forest edges, gardens, towns, coastal cliffs, semi-desert and farmlands. It is a bird of lowlands.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE: Common Starlings are abundant and widespread. They are found in Europe, Western Asia, introduced in 1890 in North America (100 birds), South Africa, Southern Australia and New Zeeland.
Common Starling is native to northern half of Eurasia.
It is resident or partially migratory in most part of its range, with some populations moving southwards to winter.

Behaviour : Common Starling is often seen in large flocks, except during breeding season. Large groups protect them from predators. They are very gregarious, breeding and feeding in small flocks, and migrating in masses.
Common Starling is omnivorous, and it may adapt to all kinds of food. If some foods are protected by skin, or shell, the bird insert its bill into the food, pries it open by widening with its bill, exposing the interior.
Common Starling introduction in North America has resulted in population declines of other cavity nesters species, with their increasing numbers and their aggressive behaviour.
Courtship displays include 'wing-waving' by the male to attract female (wings flap half way). They also sing in the decorated nest to impress their mates. Male closely surveys its female, following her all the day.
Common Starling may live close to humans in urban areas. It is another notable aspect of their social behaviour, but it may become a real nuisance due to the noise and droppings in roost places.

Flight : Common Starling performs direct and straight flight, with rapid wing beats, alternating with short glides.
Large flocks move as a single unit, with great precision, to avoid avian predators.

Reproduction-nesting : Common Starling nests in cavities or nest-boxes. Nest is made with sticks, dried grasses and plant fibres, papers, feathers and includes the same materials as in natural or artificial cavities. Nest is situated 10 to 15 feet above the ground.
Female lays 4 to 6 glossy pale blue and white eggs. Incubation lasts about 12 to 14 days, more often by female at night. Male gathers with other males in roosts. Chicks hatch altricial. They are fed by both parents, first with animal foods. Later, they feed them with a wide variety of plant and animal foods. Parents clean the nest, removing fecal sacs from the nest.
Young fledge at about 21 to 23 days, and parents feed them for a few days more. When they are independent, young gather in flocks with other young birds.
This species may produce 2 or 3 clutches per season. The second clutch (intermediate clutch) is the result of Common Starling's polygynous practice. The third clutch typically occurs 40 to 50 days after the first;
Male helps to parental care for the first clutch. But it gives little or no help for the others.

Food habits : Common Starling feeds on seeds, insects, small vertebrates, spiders, earthworms and fruits. Coastal birds feed on molluscs and crustaceans. Food varies from a place to other, depending of resources.

Protection / threats : Large and noisy flocks of Common Starlings can become a serious nuisance. They roost in trees, damaging them. Their droppings can damage automobiles and other products with the uric acid they contain.
Large populations of starlings cause damages in crops or stored grain, and on fruit crops, especially berries.
The most common problem associated with starling nesting in buildings is vectors of reintroduction of fowl mites and other pests invading buildings. They also transmit disease organisms to human and livestock.
Exclusion is always the best option to this nuisance, closing large opening with varied solutions, avoiding bird's nesting.
Traps, shots and poison are illegal, but sometimes used. Sounds are tried to scare away birds, but they come back rapidly.

Other links :
Iucn
Birdlife

Specification sheet created by Nicole Bouglouan

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