Are these common starlings; European starlings; or Both?
Dec 21, 2020 23:57:10 #
Shooter41
Loc: Wichita, KS
While photographing birds in my back yard, I discovered that the sun's side-lighting shows one thing on the bright side and another in a shadow, making it difficult sometimes to name the species of birds. At first glance, I thought both birds were common starlings, but then I learned that European starlings can have a black head where our common starlings often are speckled black-blue all over. Will one of the bird experts on UHH kindly tell me if I have one of each or both common starlings? I am including the original image before editing images as well as the post edited version so you can see the original image to help in identification. Thank you in advance.
Dec 22, 2020 05:17:26 #
Dec 22, 2020 06:49:41 #
I think there is only one species of starling in N. America https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling. Because their feathers are iridescent, they can look different depending on the angle of the sun.
Dec 22, 2020 07:00:27 #
I think the "common" starling IS the European Starling. I didn't know there were other kinds of starlings until I saw the Bali starling; a beautiful (and almost extinct) bird!
Dec 22, 2020 07:37:17 #
Shooter41
Loc: Wichita, KS
DaveO wrote:
We call them European with their winter coat!
Dear DaveO...Thank you for your quick and informative response.
Dec 22, 2020 07:43:04 #
Shooter41
Loc: Wichita, KS
RustyM wrote:
I think there is only one species of starling in N. America https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling. Because their feathers are iridescent, they can look different depending on the angle of the sun.
Dear RustyM...I enjoyed reading about the European Starling and learning that they can live up to fifteen years. Thank you for your swift and helpful information.
Dec 22, 2020 07:44:25 #
Shooter41
Loc: Wichita, KS
ELNikkor wrote:
I think the "common" starling IS the European Starling. I didn't know there were other kinds of starlings until I saw the Bali starling; a beautiful (and almost extinct) bird!
Dear ELNikkor...Thank you for your swift and informative response.
Dec 22, 2020 09:01:06 #
Shooter41 wrote:
Dear DaveO...Thank you for your quick and informative response.
LOL, I am certainly not an authority! I'll send you a couple different pics via PM when time allows.
Dec 22, 2020 11:56:13 #
Dec 22, 2020 11:59:08 #
glb1128 wrote:
This is a European Starling....
And in winter they appear more brown.https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling/id#
Dec 22, 2020 12:52:26 #
Stan Wieg
Loc: Fair Oaks, CA
Check out the Superb Starling (yes, that's really its name) common in East Africa. This one was in Amboseli National Park.
Dec 22, 2020 13:30:36 #
Dec 22, 2020 17:53:59 #
Shooter41
Loc: Wichita, KS
glb1128 wrote:
This is a European Starling....
Dear glb1128...Thank you for the helpful information.
Dec 22, 2020 20:02:18 #
I see you already have the answer, but I found this before I noticed that others had given you good information, so thought I would pass it on.
From a google search:
The common starling or European starling, also known simply as the starling in the British Isles, is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family.
So here they refer to it as being one bird. Plus looking in National Geographic Field guide, Stokes Field guide and Crossley's ID guide the only Starling they list is the European Starling, no common. The difference in coloring is seasonal according to Crossley's.
From a google search:
The common starling or European starling, also known simply as the starling in the British Isles, is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family.
So here they refer to it as being one bird. Plus looking in National Geographic Field guide, Stokes Field guide and Crossley's ID guide the only Starling they list is the European Starling, no common. The difference in coloring is seasonal according to Crossley's.
Dec 22, 2020 22:07:31 #
Shooter41
Loc: Wichita, KS
ShelbyDave wrote:
I see you already have the answer, but I found thi... (show quote)
Thank ypu ShelbyDave.
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