Love them or loathe them, European Starlings know how to make an entrance. Introduced to North America in the 1890s by a Shakespeare enthusiast (yes, really), these birds have since exploded into one of the most abundant—and flashiest—species on the continent. And yet, for all their notoriety, a starling in good light is pure magic: iridescent greens, purples, blues, and speckles that shimmer like a disco ball in feathers.
Habitat & Lifestyle
Starlings thrive in open landscapes—fields, lawns, farmland, city parks, anywhere with short grass and plenty of insects. They're opportunistic omnivores with a particular fondness for beetles, larvae, fruit, and the occasional french fry stolen from an unwatched picnic table. Their adaptability is unmatched, which explains their astonishing success from New York to New Zealand.
How to Identify One
Look for a compact, short-tailed bird with a long, slender bill (yellow in breeding season, dark in winter). In spring and summer, the plumage turns sleek and glossy, flashing metallic greens and purples. In winter, they don a speckled coat that looks like someone shook a salt shaker across their feathers. Their flight is straight, fast, and purposeful—no meandering here.
Where & When to See One
Anywhere. Truly. But for a show-stopping moment, find a field at dusk in winter and watch for murmurations—mass, swirling flocks that twist and coil like airborne smoke. It's chaotic, breathtaking, and one of nature's best free performances.
Stay curious, stay kind—and if a starling serenades you today, enjoy the glittering drama.
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