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European Starling

European Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Range & Recent Observations

European Starlingis a year-round resident and doesn't follow a migration flyway. See the Range tab for where it lives.

Last Spotted Near You

View on eBirdWikipedia

About the European Starling

The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), also known simply as the starling in Great Britain and Ireland, and as the European starling in North America, is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is about 20 cm (8 in) long and has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of the year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name
Sturnus vulgaris
Family
Starlings
Order
Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the starlings family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

  • Bali Myna Leucopsar rothschildi
  • Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum
  • Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa
  • Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
  • Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus
  • Long-tailed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis caudatus
  • Purple Starling Lamprotornis purpureus
  • Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus
  • White-cheeked Starling Spodiopsar cineraceus

Know when the European Starling turns up near you

Add it to your watchlist and draw an alert zone around the places you actually bird. Birdr checks eBird reports and tells you when one is seen inside it.

How rare bird alerts work →

Gear for spotting European Starling

Optics

Best Binoculars for Beginners

You don't need to spend a fortune. These four pairs will get you birding confidently on day one.

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Cameras

Cameras for Bird Photography

From phone adapters to dedicated rigs, here's what actually works for capturing birds in the field.

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Optics

Spotting Scopes for Distance Birding

Essential for shorebirds, raptors, and anything too far for binoculars. Our tested picks.

9 min readRead guide