I feel Starlings are a bird that is much overlooked. They're probably best know for their swirlling flocks swarming across our skies in winter, when we get large numbers arriving from the northern parts of the European continent. There are many different kinds of Starling around the world and they can be some of the most colourful birds you could wish to see. Europe hold just 3 species, the Common Starling (native to the UK and mainland Europe), the Spotless Starling (native to Iberia and the islands of the western Mediterranean) and the Rose-coloured Starling which can be seen in the far east of the continent in the summer months. The Common Starling is not as plain as most people think, with iridescent plumage and arrow head spots they can, in the right light, be very interesting. Starlings also subtlety change their plumage over the year, in the winter they replace feathers worn out during the breeding season, in spring the beak colour changes from black to yellow then after breeding the beak turns back to black and the feathers are showing signs of needing replacement as the birds have not been able to keep up with cleaning and preening their feathers having been kept extremely busy feeding chicks at the nest.
Late winter bird with fresh plumage but still keeping its black beak.
Pre-breeding bird with fresh plumage and the beak starting to turn yellow.
Post breeding bird with worn plumage and beak turned back to black.
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