Common Starling, European Starling

The starling is a medium-sized passerine with short tails, triangular wings, and long bills. Adult plumage is iridescent black, spangled with white in winter, which wears away to reveal a sleek, metallic green and purple sheen in summer.

Overall blackish-brown to charcoal with a distinct metallic green and purple iridescence at the tip; lacks the buffy fringes seen in winter plumage, suggesting breeding season wear.

Tightly interlocked pennaceous vane with a small plumulaceous base; barbicels are present and intact.

Smooth, glossy surface with a high-sheen structural color at the tip; somewhat oily/water-repellent texture.

Lanceolate shape, metallic iridescent tip, dark rachis, and overall small size relative to crow feathers.

Highly adaptable: urban areas, agricultural fields, open woodlands, and grasslands.

Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa; widely introduced and abundant throughout North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Insectivore and seed eater; often considered an invasive competitor to native cavity-nesters like Bluebirds.

Common Grackle (larger), Brown-headed Cowbird (less iridescent), Brewer's Blackbird (different shape).

Starlings are famous for 'murmurations,' where thousands of birds fly in coordinated, cloud-like formations to evade predators.

Good condition with minor wear at the tip; shows signs of natural distal abrasion common in breeding plumage.

Black color, iridescent tip