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Sturnus vulgaris

(Purple-Winged Starling)

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Afrikaans:

Europese Spreeu

Common Names in Dutch:

Spreeuw

Common Names in English:

Church-Martin, Common Starling, English Starling, Eurasian Starling, European Starling, Purple-Winged Starling, Starling

Common Names in French:

Ètourneau Sansonnet, Étourneau Sansonnet, tourneau Sansonnet

Common Names in German:

Star

Common Names in Hebrew:

זרזיר

Common Names in Italian:

Storno

Common Names in Japanese:

ホシムクドリ

Common Names in Russian:

Обыкновенный скворец, Скворец обыкновенный, Obyknovenny Skvorets

Common Names in Spanish:

Estornino Pinto

Description

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Physical Description

Adult : Bill: yellow Length : long Shape : pointed Body: Back: black with iridescent purple and green sheen and buffy tips Mantle: black with iridescent purple and green sheen and buffy tips Tail: Length: short.

Size/Age/Growth

About 6-8.5 inches long, with a wingspan of 15.5 to 15.5 inches. Adults weigh about 3 ounces .

Habitat

Vegetation: tropical lowland evergreen forest, second-growth forests and woodlands, arid lowland scrubs, second-growth scrub, arid lowland scrubs, pastures and agricultural lands, gallery forests • Maximum Elevation: 2,000 meters • Foraging Strata: Canopy • Center of Abundance: Lower subtropical: lowlands, lower than 500 m.; subtropics. • Sensitivity to Disturbancet: Low

Ecology: List of Habitats : 1.6 Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland 14.2 Artificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland 14.6 Artificial/Terrestrial - Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest

Biology

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Diet

Mostly insects, with some fruit.

Reproduction

Breeds early February to late July.

Migration

Northern birds migrate

Taxonomy

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Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 17-Oct-2001.

Similar Species

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The European Starling is somewhat similar to blackbirds, cowbirds and grackles but has a shorter tail, chunkier body, white spots on the head and body (most evident in fall), and a yellow bill (not evident in the fall).

Rarer Gray Wagtail has yellow rump and white wing stripe.

Members of the genus Sturnus

There are approximately 55 species in this genus:

S. albofrontatus (White-Faced Starling) · S. burmannicus (Vinous-Breasted Starling) · S. burmannicus burmannicus (Vinous-Breasted Starling) · S. burmannicus leucocephalus · S. caucasicus · S. cineraceus (White-Cheeked Starling) · S. contra (Asian Pied Starling) · S. contra contra (Asian Pied Starling) · S. contra floweri · S. contra jalla · S. contra sordidus · S. contra ssp · S. erythropygius (Nicobar White-Headed Starling) · S. erythropygius andamanensis · S. humii · S. indicus · S. malabaricus (Chestnut-Tailed Starling) · S. malabaricus blythii · S. malabaricus malabaricus (Chestnut-Tailed Starling) · S. malabaricus nemoricola · S. malabaricus ssp · S. melanopterus (Black-Winged Starling) · S. melanopterus melanopterus (Black-Winged Starling) · S. minor · S. nigricollis (Black-Collared Starling) · S. nitens · S. nobilior · S. pagodarum (Black-Headed Starling) · S. philippensis (Chestnut-Cheeked Starling) · S. porphyronotus · S. purpurascens · S. roseus (Rose-Coloured Starling) · S. senex (Ceylon White-Headed Starling) · S. sericeus (Red-Billed Starling) · S. sinensis (White-Shouldered Starling) · S. sturnina · S. sturninus (Purple Backed Starling) · S. sturnus · S. unicolor (Spotless Starling) · S. vulgaris (Purple-Winged Starling) · S. vulgaris caucasicus · S. vulgaris faroensis · S. vulgaris granti · S. vulgaris humii · S. vulgaris minor · S. vulgaris nobilior · S. vulgaris oppenheimi · S. vulgaris persepolis · S. vulgaris poltaratskyi · S. vulgaris porphyronotus · S. vulgaris purpurascens · S. vulgaris tauricus · S. vulgaris vulgaris (European Starling) · S. vulgaris zetlandicus · S. vulgris

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal December 06, 2007:

Identifiers

Last Revised: 2009-06-20