science education resource

Starling

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Sturnus vulgaris
Starling

Range

They live in Europe and Asia and were introduced to North America in the late 1800s in NYC. They were so successful that they have spread throughout North America and number in the many millions.

Habitat

They are found around farms, parks and yards.

Body Traits

They are dark with brownish wings and a shiny blue or green head and chest in the light. The body is speckled with light flecks in the winter months. They have a short tail, yellow beak and pink feet. They reach about 8.5" (21 cm).

Habits

They travel in large flocks and can be aggressive with other birds. As their numbers rose in North America in the last century, they forced other birds – like swallows and bluebirds – out of their habitats.

Diet

They eat insects, grain, fruit, and seeds, feeding in large flocks.

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

They nest in tree holes, laying about five light blue eggs. Males often begin the nest building as a way to attract a mate. They also attract females with song. They may raise as many as three clutches of young in a season.

Starling

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Sturnus
Species: vulgaris

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Starling" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 25, 2024
< http://exploringnature.org/db/view/Starling >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.