>> GENERAL >>>>>
– medium-sized passerine, considerably smaller than Common Blackbird
– diurnal migrant
– migrates in medium to huge, dense flocks
>> FLIGHT >>>>>
– very important reference species, whose characteristics at different distances, group sizes and light conditions are essential for the reliable identification of many other species and species groups (e.g. thrushes, European Golden Oriole, Rosy Starling)
– mostly small to large that can move rapidly and very elegantly
– near roosts, flocks can grow to several tens of thousands of individuals
– fast, very straight and energetic flight on stiff short triangular wings, often at least above tree line
– flocks very dense, with little intra-flock movement but rapid and perfectly synchronised changes in flight direction and altitude
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, NBREED
BIF0682, 31/10/15, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, NBREED
BIF0683, 31/10/15, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, NBREED
BIF0684, 31/10/15, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, M AD, BREED
BIF0243, 08/05/2011, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, 1CY
BIF0247, 10/09/2012, Wermsdorfer Teiche, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, predominantly 1CY
BIF250, 01/07/2010, Kiskunsági National Park, Hungary, Mathias Putze
-> please note moulting primaries!
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, NBREED
BIF0246, 24/09/2010, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, 1CY
BIF0249, 10/09/2012, Wermsdorfer Teiche, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, predominantly 1CY
BIF0251, 01/07/2010, Kiskunsági National Park, Hungary, Mathias Putze
-> please note moulting primaries!
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, 1CY
BIF0248, 10/09/2012, Wermsdorfer Teiche, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris
BIF0244, 09/10/2012, Gülper See, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris
BIF0245, 09/10/2012, Gülper See, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
BIF0797, 10/03/2013, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
BIF0798, 10/03/2013, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
BIF0799, 10/03/2013, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze
>> SOUND ID >>>>>
– a variety of calls mostly related to intra-flock behaviour
– conspicuous wing sound a reliable ID feature
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, 1CY
BIF0252, 10/11/2014, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Patrick Franke
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, calls in flight
BIF1115, 22/09/2016, Wermsdorf, Germany, Patrick Franke
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, calls in flight
BIF1116, 22/09/2016, Wermsdorf, Germany, Patrick Franke
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, wing sound
BIF2945, 22/09/2017, Werbelliner See, Germany, Patrick Franke
– small flock (~50 individuals)
Common Starling Sturnus v. vulgaris, wing sound
BIF2946, 21/09/2018, Karrendorfer Wiesen, Germany, Patrick Franke
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Rosy Starling
Song Thrush
Redwing
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