European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

E32382

The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a highly adaptable, social songbird native to Eurasia, known for its iridescent plumage, complex vocalizations, and large, synchronized flocks called murmurations.

All labels observed (3)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (92)

Predicate Object
instanceOf bird species
passerine
songbird
activityPattern diurnal
averageLength about 20 cm
averageMass about 60 to 100 g
averageWingspan about 31 to 44 cm
billColor darker outside breeding season
yellow in breeding season
binomialAuthority Linnaeus, 1758
linked to: Carl Linnaeus
breedingSystem socially monogamous with extra-pair copulations
class Aves
clutchSize typically 4 to 6 eggs
commonName European starling
common starling
conservationStatus Least Concern
conservationStatusSystem IUCN Red List
diet earthworms
fruits
grains
insects
seeds
spiders
ecologicalImpact can damage agricultural crops
competes with native cavity-nesting birds
eggColor pale blue
family Sturnidae
fledgingPeriod about 21 days after hatching
flightPattern strong direct flight
synchronized flock movements
flockingBehavior forms murmurations
foragingBehavior ground forager
genus Sturnus
incubationPeriod about 12 days
introducedBy Eugene Schieffelin
introducedByOrganization American Acclimatization Society
introducedRange Argentina
Australia
Chile
Falkland Islands
Hawaii
New Zealand
North America
South Africa
introductionEvent introduced to North America in 1890s
introductionLocation New York City
kingdom Animalia
legalStatusInUS invasive species
legColor pinkish-red
lifespanWild typically up to 5 years
maximumRecordedLifespanWild over 15 years
migrationPattern partial migrant
resident in parts of range
morphologicalFeature pointed wings
short tail
straight pointed bill
nativeRange Europe
central Asia
western Asia
nestSite buildings
nest boxes
tree cavities
nestType cavity nester
order Passeriformes
phylum Chordata
plumageCharacteristic dark glossy plumage
iridescent feathers
pale spots in winter
populationTrend declining in some native regions
increasing globally
primaryPredators birds of prey
mammalian carnivores
reproductionSeason early summer
spring
roostingBehavior forms large communal roosts
scientificName Sturnus vulgaris
sexualDimorphism subtle differences between males and females
socialBehavior forms large flocks
highly gregarious
taxonRank species
typicalHabitat farmland
grassland
open woodland
suburban areas
urban areas
usedInResearch model species for social behavior
model species for vocal learning
vocalizationCharacteristic complex vocal mimicry
imitates mechanical sounds
imitates other bird species
vocalizationType calls
song

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (6)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Passeriformes exampleSpecies European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
European starling scientificName Sturnus vulgaris
linked to: European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
European starling commonName European starling
linked to: European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Western bluebird competitor European starling
linked to: European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
American Acclimatization Society introducedSpecies European starling
linked to: European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Sturnus historicallyIncludedTaxon European starling
linked to: European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)