Birds · Passeriformes · Sturnidae

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

From the 100 birds released in New York in 1890, the population grew to more than 200 million across North America within a century.

Weight

60 g – 101 g

Size

19 cm – 23 cm

Lifespan

3 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

GrasslandOmnivore Diurnal Colonial Bird Grassland

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Fun facts

From 100 birds released in New York in 1890, its North American population passed 200 million within a century.
It is known for forming huge coordinated flocks called murmurations.
It is one of the most successful invasive birds in the world.
comportamientoIt forms huge flocks called murmurations, in which thousands of birds fly as one because each bird responds only to its nearest neighbours.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Open country, farmland and towns of Eurasia; introduced to North America, Australia and New Zealand
Birth weight: No precise figure for hatching weight in the sources consulted
Size at birth: Blind and naked on hatching (altricial)
Sexual maturity: ~1 year
Gestation / incubation: 12-15 days
Litter / clutch size: 4 to 6 eggs per clutch (up to 2 broods a year)

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web; A-Z Animals; EDDMapS; Animalia.bio; Binocular Base; PMC (telomere loss study)