
Starling
(Sturnus vulgaris)
It’s almost time to spot one of the noisiest garden birds around; the starling!
Renowned as one of the UK’s most gregarious birds, it has a strong reputation for its dazzling displays of avian behaviour, the murmuration. Starlings- part of the Sturnidae family- spend a lot of the year in flocks and the number of starlings in a roost can swell to around 100,000 in some places so the acrobatic aerial displays of swooping and diving are simply beautiful to watch. If you want know why starlings flock in these murmurations, click here.
Despite being one of the most common garden birds, there has been a decline in numbers and in the UK alone there are approximately 1 million breeding pairs. As it is globally threatened, it is classed as a red listed, endangered species but the cause of this is unknown.
General characteristics
Although starling’s behaviour is breathtaking to witness, their appearance is somewhat less charismatic. The scruffy looking birds are chunky and about the size of a Thrush; with pink legs, short tails and long slender beaks.
At a distance they look black but in winter they are brown, heavily covered in white speckles. This spotting wears away as the feathers become worn towards spring. The female starling looks less glossy and oily than its male counterpart but a key difference to tell the sexes apart is by the colour of their bills; blue for the males and pink for the females.
Juveniles look completely different with a brown plumage, and the normal lifespan of a starling is around 15 years.
Where to see one
Starling murmuration takes place between October and November and if you want to see one, the best time is early evening or dusk.
To view a murmuration in action, click here to find one near you.
What do they eat
Starlings just about eat anything but they enjoy feeding on worms, snails, insects, fruit and seed mixes.
They forage for food by probing in the soil and pushing rocks and soil out of the way. As juveniles they can be seen chasing after the parent bird on the ground, following at its ‘heels’ whilst foraging.
The birds have a bad reputation though as they are known to be very aggressive, so don’t be surprised to see flocks fighting over food. They tend to descend on bird tables and feeders in large numbers and devour everything in sight in a matter of minutes; so you’ll only have a small window of time to watch them before they clean out the feeding station.
It’s worth noting however this isn’t because they’re greedy but because they evolved to feed quickly in flocks.
Taxonomy
Its name- Sturnus vulgaris- derives from a Swedish botanist/zoologist called Linnaeus; who is otherwise known by the nickname ‘father of modern taxonomy’.
The acclaimed scientist, many of which his writings were in Latin, first described Sturnus vulgaris in his book ‘Systema Naturea’ in 1758.
- ‘Sturnus’ is Latin for ‘starling’
- ‘Vulgaris’ means ‘common’
Therefore it goes without saying that the popular English names include Common Starling or European Starling.
What is the Starling’s nesting behaviour
As aforementioned, the species are repute for being pugnacious and this is apparent in nesting too, driving native birds out of their territories.
It is the male that builds the nest from grass and this is usually in a hole in the wall, tree or building. So you can expect to see them nesting in places like parks and gardens and they’ve taken to nest boxes too.
It is then the females that line it with feathers, wool and moss. Interestingly, once the nest has been built the male will decorate it with leaves and petals.
Starlings usually breed during April and June and a typical clutch contains between 4-7 pale blue-green eggs. Males often have several families but only the female brood the chicks.
Females can produce 1-2 broods a year and then it is both parents’ responsibility to feed their young. It is not uncommon though for females to lay their eggs in another starling’s nest!
Please do visit our Interactive Starling Murmuration map this winter to find a murmuration near you and if you’re lucky enough to see one, please share the video with us and we’ll put your sighting on the map for everyone to enjoy.
I have a feeding sanctuary in my garden, it’s divided into two halves, one for starlings and the other for small birds. Every year it’s so noisy between May and July when the fledglings follow the adults to the sanctuary, it’s a joy to watch them being fed. The fledglings soon learn to feed themselves, thankfully their numbers have grown here in Northern Ireland.
Interesting reading about the starlings , however we live in Dumfries and Galloway where there appear to be many starlings , so I was surprised to read that there has been a significant decline in numbers. We regularly had at least twenty plus at a time on our feeders in the garden throughout June and July and some have returned during the last few weeks. I also note that there are no murmuration sites on the south west area in Scotland.
Great info, we’ve had a pair best in the garage roof for some years. Do the parents clean the nest while the chicks are there? I ask as I see the parents bring things out!
We have had 20 to 30 starlings daily since April in our front garden …..especially interesting in June when they brought their young to my feeding station …..not phased with my presence at all
I have a large number of starlings that have bred here for at least five years, my husband counted 40 youngsters one day in the summer perched and waiting to feed. I also have a leucistic one we call Chalky but don’t know if it’s male or female
This year, after the the main body of starlings had left our garden area for the summer, two juveniles remained. They were self sufficient in feeding but came daily to feed along with the sparrows. “Our” sparrows line along the garden fence before descending on the feeders or the ground. Prominent amongst them were our two juvenile starlings; they arrived and left with the sparrows and could be seen in the trees which border our neighbour’s garden. Is this usual behaviour? Did they need the company of the sparrows when the other starlings were away? More starlings are now returning to the garden, now that autumn is on its way.
Starlings,
What a joy to have them, no matter of their noisy ” wake up call”, or in time when chicks screaming for food. I have 14th generations of Starlings and this year was very “busy” with third clutch in row.
Very territorial, but charming “lover”, starling is great mate, father and he is the one who “call and force” chicks for first flight. The male is absolutely beauty in spring, but in winter too, and only difference I saw between male and female is – female doesn’t have so pronounced “peacock” colours on feathers as male and she has white spotted tummy.
They are very inteligent and recognise the faces (me and they are not afraid – even bring chicks to me – show them where to go for food. I have many photos, videos of them and long hours of joy and laugh too.
I do have other birds to, but on the other side of house ( strategically putting feeders to ” have peace “between other birds ( doves, tits, robins, goldfinches, ….)
Starling must be my favourite bird, they are comical to watch. They come to our garden in great numbers, thirty easily just descend on the tables, the noise is hilarious. It’s like a mass mugging, they storm in, eat everything, make a mess then leave. Garden pirates! I love them.
We had no Starlings in our garden for the past 4 years,we feed all manner of other birds from bird tables,feeders and the ground.There are mature plants and shrubs which provide insects ,slugs and snails.
This am 28 th April we’ve had a small flock arrive .
Is this en route on their migratory path or do you think they might stay for the Summer?
We live close to the sea on the South Coast
I’m new to watching birds but my step son and I are wondering. He says any mother will feed any starling offspring even if it belongs to another mother. I see one offspring following one parent, so who is correct?
I have enjoyed watching the starlings bring there babies to feed this year and I am sure we are on a second clutch. Hopefully they will return another year if my neighbours don’t remove the trees where they roost
Hi I have had starlings nesting in a homemade box attached to the side of my house in the north west of England for years now but yesterday a female (I think) was busy clearing out this years earlier nest – it’s November, why would she be doing this?
Are starlings common in North America? Every year for one day (occasionally two consecutive days) a flock flies in …at least a hundred, maybe two. They swoop in together…..eat like crazy….then swoop up and back down, and up and down several times, before flying further and further away. It is always on an early winter day in December or January, and usually after a snowfall, either light or heavy. Today there is a heavy ground cover, but since it is the first snow, there is a lot of tree debris on the top of the snow. They are reddish brown in varying degrees with all of those speckles I am not sure they are Starlings, but they sure look like they could be. I live in southern New York State. If anyone can help me make a good identification, I would sure appreciate it. Whatever they are they are a beautiful sight to behold. And, their take offs and landings make such a beautiful sound.
I love in George south africa and every March the starlings arrive in huge swarms and do their dancing in the sky for 10.to 15 minutes ,,,then slowly swoop down in groups into a green belt in the middle of our retirment village ,,,it’s a wonderful sight as sometimes they fly right over my house and the wings shine like gold in the afternoon sunset aren’t we blessed by our heavenly father Jehovah
Hi, I have we live in Derbyshire a year ago we had 2 starlings, now afer lots of feeding and peace we have over 40 with about 15 or more babies they truly are amazing to watch
Some photos as we sit in the garden my partner just said it’s more life 70 adults and 40 babies
I’ve got a baby starling on my porch settled on top of some wires in N.C. close to my bird feeder but all by himself.
We’ve had a few murmuration displays over West Bridgford in Nottingham recently. Never seen them here before. Truly stunning displays but there are now be hundreds of them roosting in the conifers at the back of our house – been there for the last three nights. The noise is deafening! And the poo is prolific! It’s an amazing phenomenon but I do hope they will be moving on soon ?!
We have loads of starlings and babies, I’m filling up feeders 3/4 times a day, have 4 feeders. How long will I need to keep up this amount of food, costing a fortune! But do enjoy feeding the birds, small birds not getting much of a lookin, plus we have 20plus pigeons!
I have starlings in my garden in Kent and they leave in the winter but have just returned and taken over the water baths. Where do they go?
Currently experiencing a murmaration of starlings in Siddal Halifax absolutely spectacular
Ok so I saw these birds swooping when flying together ❤️ but I also saw them in a tree with a small hole…I don’t know if they were feeding babies or eating something. I saw different ones taking turns. I have a video.
Hi, we’ve had starlings in the roof every year for 12 yrs but I’ve now noticed that when the nest is cleaned out, the material is taken some distance away. Is this just hygiene or marking territory?
Thanks Shaun