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| Starling - Sturnus vulgaris |
Widespread all year round UK visitor. A noisy, gregasious bird most abundant in southern England, more thinly distributed in uplands areas with moorlands. Although they are still the UK's commenest garden bird its decline in numbers puts it on the red list status.
Red is the highest conservation priority, with species needing urgent action. |
| Indentification |
| Adult |
The upperparts are glossy black with brown margins to the wings and feathers. The head, back and underparts are glossy black in summer, and heavily speckled with white in the winter. |
| Juvenile |
The juveniles have a grey-brown buff body with whitish chin patch black bill and legs. |
| Size |
20.5 - 22.5 cms |
| Bill |
yellow, short & thin |
| Legs |
red, medium in length |
| Habitat |
gardens, marshes, moors, sea cliffs, estuaries, woods, hedges. |
| Behaviour |
flits, perches openly, walks, takes off & lands from vegetation and the ground |
| Flocking |
1 - 100,000 |
| Flight |
glides, strong & powerful, direct |
| Voice |
variety wheezing calls, much mimicry |
| Breeding |
| Nest |
untidy, hole in a tree, cliff or building, nest boxes |
| Eggs |
5 - 7, pale blue |
| Incubation period |
12 - 15 days |
| Fledgling |
20 - 22 days |
| Broods |
1 - 2, April - May |
| Food |
insects, fruit, seeds, nuts, suet |
| UK breeding pairs |
1.2 million |
| Selection of popular products |
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