? Common Starling Conservation status: Lower risk (lc)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae Genus: Sturnus Species: S. vulgaris
Binomial name
Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758

The European Starling or Common Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, is a passerine bird in the family Sturnidae. Download high resolution version (800x973, 169 KB)Photograph of a Common Starling (an immature female apparently) Taken by user PaulLomax in London. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms (as opposed to folk taxonomy). ... Phyla Subregnum Parazoa Porifera (sponges) Subregnum Agnotozoa Placozoa (trichoplax) Orthonectida (orthonectids) Rhombozoa (dicyemids) Subregnum Eumetazoa Radiata (unranked) (radial symmetry) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anemones) Bilateria (unranked) (bilateral symmetry) Acoelomorpha (basal) Orthonectida (parasitic to flatworms, echinoderms, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicatas Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Many - see section below. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... Genera Aplonis Poeoptera Grafisia Onychognathus Lamprotornis Cinnyricinclus Speculipastor Neochicla Spreo Cosmoparus Sarroglossa Creatophora Fregilupus (extinct) Necropsar (extinct) Sturnus Leucopsar Basilornis Streptocitta Sarcops Scissirostrum See also Myna, Oxpecker Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Carolus Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as , (May 23, 1707 – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[1] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... Orders Many - see section below. ... Genera Aplonis Poeoptera Grafisia Onychognathus Lamprotornis Aplonis Aplonis Cinnyricinclus Speculipastor Neochicla Spreo Cosmoparus Sarroglossa Creatophora Fregilupus (extinct) Sturnus Leucopsar Basilornis Streptocitta Sarcops Scissirostrum See also Myna, Oxpecker Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. ...

This starling is native to most of Eurasia, but has been introduced to South Africa, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Eurasia African-Eurasian aspect of Earth Eurasia is the landmass composed of Europe and Asia. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ...

It is resident in southern and western Europe, but northern and eastern populations migrate in winter to these regions, and also further south to areas where it does not breed in Iberia and north Africa. Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ... // Long-distance land bird migration Many species of land migratory birds migrate very long distances, the most common pattern being for birds to breed in the temperate or arctic northern hemisphere and winter in warmer regions, often in the tropics or the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere. ... The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe. ... A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. ...

The Starling lives in a variety of habitats and can be found in any reasonably open environment from farmland to salt marsh. Freshwater marsh in Florida In geography, a marsh is a type of wetland, featuring grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, and other herbaceous plants (possibly with low-growing woody plants) in a context of shallow water. ...

These birds will eat almost anything, including farmland invertebrates and berries, and garbage. This is a highly gregarious species, forming huge flocks in winter, and providing a spectacular sight and sound as they descend into evening reed-bed roosts, often attracting birds of prey such as Merlins or Sparrowhawks. Large roosts (exceptionally up to a million birds) can form in city centres, causing a great deal of mess from their droppings. Flocks are also noted for forming a tight sphere-like formation in flight, then expanding and contracting and even changing shape, all seemingly without any sort of leader. Invertebrate is a term coined by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck to describe any animal without a spinal column. ... Orders Accipitriformes     Cathartidae     Pandionidae     Accipitridae     Sagittariidae Falconiformes     Falconidae A bird of prey or raptor is a bird that hunts its food, especially one that preys on mammals or other birds. ... Binomial name Falco columbarius (Linnaeus, 1758) Merlin (Falco columbarius) is a falcon that breeds in northern North America, Europe and Asia. ... Binomial name Accipiter nisus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. ... A sphere (< Greek σφαίρα) is a perfectly symmetrical geometrical object. ...

The 19-22 cm long European Starling must be one of the most familiar of birds in temperate regions, with its shiny black plumage spangled with white. Confusion is only likely in Iberia in winter, when it has to be distinguished from the closely related Spotless Starling, which, as its name implies, has less spotting on its plumage. Adult male European Starlings are less spotted below than adult females. Juveniles are dull brown, and by their first winter resemble adults but are browner especially on the head. Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... Binomial name Sturnus unicolor Temminck, 1820 The Spotless Starling, Sturnus unicolor is a passerine bird in the starling family Sturnidae. ...

Starlings walk rather than hop. Their flight is quite strong and direct; they look triangular-winged and short-tailed in flight. In most of Europe, only the rarer and much paler Bohemian Waxwing shares this flight profile. This is a noisy bird uttering a wide variety of mechanical-sounding and melodic sounds, including a distinctive "wolf whistle." Starlings are also noted as mimics, like many of its family. In captivity, Starlings will learn to imitate all types of sounds and speech earning them the nickname "Poor-man's Myna". Binomial name Bombycilla garrulus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is a member of the waxwing family of passerines. ... Finger whistling or wolf-whistling, is a form of whistling in which one or more fingers are inserted into the mouth to shape the opening, allowing a forceful stream of air to be blown through. ... † See also Starling, Oxpecker The mynas are part of the family Sturndidae, along with the starlings and oxpeckers. ...

The European Starling has been adversely affected by intensive agriculture, and in countries like the UK it has been red-listed since its numbers are falling, although it remains a widespread and very common species. Red-listed species includes any indigenous species or subspecies (taxa) considered to be Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened in their locale. ...

There are two subspecies of the European Starling. The Shetland Starling, S. vulgaris subsp. zetlandicus is slightly larger than the nominate S. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris, and is found in Shetland, Fair Isle and the Western Isles.The Faroese Starling, S. vulgaris subsp. faroeensis is the largest (European) variant of the starling. The winter adult is black with blue shades, which become green in the summer. This subspecies is only found in the Faroe islands. See Shetland (disambiguation) for other meanings. ... Fair Isle (From Old Norse frioar-øy) is an island administratively part of the Shetland Islands, although in fact closer to North Ronaldsay island which is part of the Orkney Islands group. ... The Western Isles are an archipelago in Scotland. ...

Originally the Starlings of Scotland and England were similar to those of the European mainland, but they died out in Scotland before 1800 and became rare in England. A hundred years later, around 1900, S. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris, recolonised from Europe, and since about 1940 this subspecies has spread to Iceland, where there are today thriving colonies in both East and West Iceland. S. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris is occasionally seen in the Faroes too. Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages None official English de facto Capital None official London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked... 1800 (MDCCC) was an common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ...

Introduced populations

This adaptable and omnivorous species is considered to be a pest in several the countries to which it has been introduced. The European Starling is a hole-nesting species and will nest in just about any cavity it finds. It has impacted on native species where it has been introduced because of competition for nest sites. An omnivore (from Latin: omne all, everything; vorare to devour) is an animal that eats both plants and meat. ...

In Western Australia, which is Starling-free, the government pays full-time hunters to patrol the border and shoot Starlings as they arrive. Emblems: Fauna-Black Swan Flora-Kangaroo Paw Capital = Perth Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital {{{Capital}}} Government Governor Premier Const. ...

Although there are approximately 200 million starlings in North America, they are all descendants of approximately 60 birds released in Central Park, New York, by Eugene Schieffelin, who headed an acclimatization society trying to introduce to North America every bird species mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare. World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... A Central Park landscape Central Park (, ) is a large public, urban park (843 acres or 3. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Largest city Albany New York City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 27th 141,205 km² 455 km 530 km 13. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

The descendents of these Starlings have created mayhem in North America. Many species are losing nesting sites to the more aggressive Starlings. Starlings will also sometimes drive off native birds, including the bluebirds (Sialia spp.), the Purple Martin (Progne subis), Tree Swallows (Iridoprocne bicolor), and some of the smaller species of woodpecker. They have even been observed taking over the nests of House Sparrows, another introduced species. --216. ... Binomial name Progne subis (Linnaeus,, 1766) The Purple Martin, Progne subis, is the largest North American swallow at 20 cm length. ... Binomial name Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808) The Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, is a migratory passerine bird that breeds in North America and winters in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. ... Genera Jynx Picumnus Sasia Nesoctites Melanerpes Sphyrapicus Xiphidiopicus Campethera Geocolaptes Dendropicos Dendrocopos Picoides Veniliornis Piculus Colaptes Celeus Dryocopus Campephilus Picus Dinopium Chrysocolaptes Gecinulus Sapheopipo Blythipicus Reinwardtipicus Meiglyptes Hemicircus Mulleripicus Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. ... Binomial name Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) occurs naturally in most of Europe and Asia, though it is replaced by allied forms in some areas. ...

A century after their introduction they have contributed to the decline of all of the above, multiplying rapidly, and can now be found throughout North America and Alaska to the point of overpopulation. Official language(s) English Capital Largest city Juneau Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi  (1,717,854 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ...

These birds pose enough of a threat to songbirds that it is legal to kill Starlings at any time in the U.S. and Canada, and a bounty may be paid. It is also a common practice where possible to set up nest boxes in backyards and wooded areas for native species to give them a chance, and to destroy Starling nests.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Category:Sturnus vulgaris

• ARKive - images and movies of the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
• RSPB
• BBC
• Cornell University
• Starling Central - Information on the care of Starlings and recordings of a Starling talking
• BBC dawn chorus Sample of the starling's song

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