Photo: PierreSelim / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a member of the Sturnidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 77.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Sturnidae Starlings, Rhabdornises
- Genus Sturnus
- Species vulgaris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 77.1 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Male vs female
Very similar; males average fewer white spots and have long loose throat feathers, while females are a touch more spotted with shorter, pointed throat feathers (bill base is blue-gray in males, pinkish in females when breeding).
Juvenile appearance
Plain gray-brown and unspotted, gradually molting into spangled adult plumage.
Breeding vs non-breeding
Strong seasonal change: fresh nonbreeding/winter birds are heavily white-spotted with a dark bill; by breeding the white tips wear off leaving glossy iridescent black with a yellow bill.
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Common Starling is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a member of the Sturnidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL w, c, introduced worldwide.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 77.1 g, with a wing length of about 12.8 cm and a tail of around 6.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 17.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Starling?
The Common Starling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 77.1 g.
Where does the Common Starling live?
The Common Starling is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL w, c, introduced worldwide, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Common Starling belong to?
The Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) belongs to the Sturnidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Common Starling eat?
The Common Starling is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Common Starling migrate?
The Common Starling is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Common Starling endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Starling make?
1 real field recording of the Common Starling — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Starling's range?
The Common Starling has a mapped global range of about 17.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Common Grackle vs Common Starling: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Common Grackle from a Common Starling — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.