Starling Sturnus vulgaris

Starling
Starling
The (Common/European) Starling has a beautiful iridescent purple and green gloss and white/pale spots at the tips of its feathers. Its is brighter/spottier in summer and duller brown in winter. The beak is yellow in the breeding season and brown/black late in the year.
Starling
Starling plumage Close up of plumage showing buff tips
Starling
The Common Starling is native to much of temperate Europe through to Central Asia. It is resident in some of its range and, even where resident, is partly migratory. In the north of its range, birds migrate south in winter to North Africa and the Middle East to northern India. It has also been introduced to America and Australasia.
Starling - spotty Spotty
Starling - Bad Hair Day A Bad Hair Day
Starling Recomposed
Starling - Bubblegum Enjoying bubblegum!
Starling - Housework
Starling - Housework
Housework: when clearing the eggshells the Starling is clever enough to take them far away from the nest to deter predators.
Starling
Starling
Starling
They are opportunist feeders eating anything they can.
Starling flock with Lapwings
Starling flock
Starling flock
They are gregarious by nature with a tendency to form flocks. Flocks can contain several hundred or even thousands of birds.
Starling nestlings in tree hole
Starling with nestlings in tree
Starling clearing nest of faeces
Starlings nest in tree-holes. The photos in the row above of nestlings and a parent feeding and clearing faeces from the nest are by Dr Harsha Vardhan Reddy.