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Starling Sturnus vulgaris [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Sturnidae
BTO Codes:
SG , STARL
EURING No:
15820
Number in Britain:
9.5 million birds (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
RED
European:
3 Concern, most not in Europe; Declining
Global:
Least Concern
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IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
vulgaris (RW), zetlandicus (R) recorded in Britain (of 13 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
22 cm
Wingspan:
40 cm
Weight:
M/F: 78 g
Scientific name from:
L.: sturnus =a starling
and L.: vulgaris =common
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Europe (except Iberia, Greece), c Asia, WINTERS: s to n Africa, s Asia, INTRODUCED North America, Australasia
Habitat:
Farmland, woodland, towns
Diet:
Mostly insects (esp crane-fly larvae), fruit and seeds, mostly on ground, often near cattle
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
8.1 to 10.8 million birds
in 1994-00
First Record:
8th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Middle Pleistocene, c. 500,000 yr ago]
Latest Survey:
Robinson et al. (2005) Bird Study 52:252-260
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Towns
Also common in:
Villages
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
21 to 46 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(III), WBD(II*)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
30 x 21 mm
Egg Weight:
7.0 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
395
Clutch Size:
4 - 5 eggs
4.60 ± 0.94 (2 - 9) N = 2920
Incubation:
12 - 15 days
12.38 ± 1.61 (10 - 16) N = 2920
by the:
Male + Female
Fledging:
19 - 22 days
20.50 ± 3.25 (15 - 26) N = 5459
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
19 Apr (6 Apr - 30 May)
Number of Broods:
1-2
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
15568
Adult Survival:
0.687
Juvenile Survival:
0.518 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
2
years
Typical Lifespan:
5
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
17yr7m
(Denmark: 22yr 11m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
C
Wing Length
Adult:
131.3 ± 3.5
Range
126 - 137 mm, N =32774
Juvenile:
130.2 ± 4.2
122 - 136 mm, N =10312
Male:
132.6 ± 3.1
128 - 137 mm, N =18182
Female:
129.5 ± 3.3
124 - 135 mm, N =13930
Weight
Adult:
84.99 ± 9.88
Range
73.30 - 98.00 g , N =24304
Juvenile:
81.83 ± 7.59
70.00 - 95.00 g , N =8104
Male:
86.95 ± 9.97
76.00 - 100.0 g , N =13448
Female:
82.50 ± 9.27 .
72.00 - 95.00 g , N =10351
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Common Starling
Gaelic:
Druid
Welsh:
Drudwen
Danish:
Stær
Dutch:
Spreeuw
Finnish:
Kottarainen
French:
Étourneau sansonnet
German:
Star
Hungarian:
Seregély
Icelandic:
Stari
Irish:
Druid
Italian:
Storno
Norwegian:
Stær
Polish:
Szpak
Portuguese:
Estorinho-malhado
Spanish:
Estornino pinto
Swedish:
Stare
Collective Noun: Murmuration (or Chattering)
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Feare, C. 1984 The starling Oxford University Press, Oxford
[598.971 FEA]
Feare, C.J. 1985 The Starling Shire Publications, Princes Risborough
[Jour: S]
Feare, C.J. 1996 Studies of West Palearctic birds: Starling British Birds 89:549-567
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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