Fauna Flora Photography

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris

Migratory bird with white sparkling, overall dark, metallic shining feather dress. This species has been introduced to North America and can be both helpful and harmful to agriculture by either controlling invertebrate pests or damaging themselves fruits and growing sprouts.

Specs

Length25-30cm
Weight60-90g
Wingspan45-50cm

Common Names

GermanGemeiner Star
EnglishCommon Starling
FrenchÉtourneau sansonnet
SpanishEstornino pinto

Taxonomy

OrderPasseriformes
FamilySturnidae
SpeciesSturnus vulgaris

How to Identify

Dark bluish to greenish, metallic shining feather dress with white spots. Usually appears in nearby parks in small flocks, resting in the top of trees, feeding on the ground.

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) - Pippy Park - 2017-08-15
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) - Parc des Rapides - 2016-01-23
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) - Parc des Rapides - 2016-01-23
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) - Parc des Rapides - 2016-01-23

Where and When to Spot

Early spring till late autumn in all parks around Montreal.

SpringSummerFallWinter
Champ des Possibles x - - -
Parc Angrignon x x - -
Parc Michel-Chartrand x - - -
Parc de la Frayère x - - -
Parc des Rapides x x - -

Where and when a species has been observed, identified, and recorded.


Last updated on 2024-03-14. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.