Sturnus vulgaris - Starling
Feather characters. Barbules are from short to medium length (0.51-1.60 mm). Barbules are divided into pigmented nodes and unpigmented internodes. Diamond-shaped and occasionally bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (34-45 per mm). They are all about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are rounded and internodes are occasionally kinked. Minute prongs may be present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented nodes combined with rounded villi. Only the shape of nodes and internodes is different: nodes are diamond-shaped (and bell-shaped) with kinked internodes.
Field characters. Size 22 cm. Weight: male 84.7 g, female 79.9 g (Dunning, 1993). A well-known bird with a long bill, compact body and short tail and wings, lending it a stocky appearance. Highly gregarious; often occurs in dense flocks, which perform aerial evolutions in unison. Flight is characteristic: swift and straight, occasionally closing wings for a moment, or extending them whilst gliding. Has a brisk, jerky gait and makes a perky and active impression. Adult breeding plumage is black with a strong iridescent sheen; upperparts are speckled with white, in female more than in male; bill is yellow, in male with blue base. Non-breeding adult is similar, but entire plumage is densely speckled brown and white; bill is brown. Juvenile is uniform black-brown with off-white throat.
Voice. Usually noisy, especially when roosting. An excellent vocal imitator, which mimics not only other birds but also farm animals and traffic noise. Most common notes a rasping "tcheer" and a clear "peeoo", descending in pitch.
Distribution. Common, but absent from Spain, Portugal, Corsica and Sardinia, where replaced by Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor, not included in BRIS); northern populations migrate southwards during winter and occur in same region as Spotless Starling. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Generally associated with presence of humans and cattle; no special preference of habitat, but short-turf pastures and lawns with nearby trees or human artefacts with nestholes are prerequisite.
Food. More or less omnivorous, although insect larvae preferred during breeding season.