Common starling Sturnus vulgaris

Features

The common starling belongs to the family of Sturnidae. It is the most widespread and successful species in the world. The inhabitants of Slovenia sometimes consider them a nuisance, because in October and November thousands of them travel through the territory, whereby they do considerable damage to fruit trees, vineyards and olive groves.

Species	Bird
Living space	Field, Meadow, Swamp
Size	22 cm
Weight	58 - 100 g

Description

The common starling has black feathers with green, blue and red and purple metal shine. In winter it has white dots and the colour is thus more contrasting, especially that of the females. The females are also more freckled than the males. Their eyes are dark-brown. Their beak is sharp and yellow in spring, and in winter, it is blackish. The wings are narrow and triangular, while the tail is relatively short. Their legs are reddish-brown. The young specimens are more brown and whitish under the neck. The common starlings are omnivore. They are social birds; outside the nesting period, and before going to sleep, they sometimes gather in a group of thousands. The flock flies for some time in the form of a ball, then forms a funnel and finally sprays. They can also imitate other birds.