European Starling

Adults in breeding plumage are iridescent black with green and purple sheens and yellow bills. In winter, plumage is heavily spotted with white or buff, and bills turn dark. Juveniles are a uniform dull brown with a dark bill.

Short, square tail; long, pointed yellow bill (spring); iridescent black plumage with speckles; triangular wings in flight.

Length: 7.5-9.1 in (19-23 cm); Wingspan: 12.2-15.7 in (31-40 cm); Weight: 2.1-3.5 oz (60-100 g).

A complex mix of whistles, clicks, rattles, and expert mimicry of other birds, mechanical sounds, or human speech.

Omnivorous; feeds on insects (cranefly larvae, beetles), seeds, fruits, and discarded human food. Often probes the ground with its bill.

Disturbed areas, urban settings, parks, gardens, and farms. Avoids deep forests and arid deserts.

Resident to short-distance migrant. Populations in colder northern climates move south for the winter.

Cavity nesters that use natural hollows, woodpecker holes, or human structures. Clutch size: 4-6 eggs. May have 2 broods per season.

Common Grackle (larger, longer tail), Brown-headed Cowbird (shorter bill, different shape), or Red-winged Blackbird (different bill shape and wing markings).

Significant as an invasive species in North America where they compete with native cavity-nesters for sites. They also act as insect controllers but can be pests in agricultural areas.

Least Concern (Population stable globally, though declining in parts of its native European range).

Easily observed in suburban gardens, parks, and agricultural fields. Look for them in large, noisy flocks on lawns or utility wires.

All European Starlings in North America (now numbering over 200 million) are descended from 100 birds released in New York's Central Park in the early 1890s by a group wanting to introduce all birds mentioned in Shakespeare's plays.