(Part of the) common name for many species of the family Sturnidae (order Passeriformes), often used without qualification for common Palaearctic species and in the plural the general name of the family. Originally it belongs to the well-known Sturnus vulgaris (or Common Starling), which ranges almost all through Eurasia and was also introduced all too successfully in the New World, where it out-competed many native species. Starlings are medium sized birds (17-43 cm) with strong legs and bills. They are omnivorous birds and many are more or less black in colour and often with a particular glossy shining.

Alternative forms for starlings : starling, Starling.