The Starling/Gannet

GARY BRALSFORD completes his introduction to the spotless starling, a likeable songbird that packs a serious appetite! For his previous article, see the September 4 issue.

SOFTBILLS

A GOOD description of the spotless starling is that it is closely similar to the common starling, but marginally larger (21-23cm in length, 70-100g in weight), with darker, oilylooking black plumage, glossed slightly purple or green in a bright light. It is entirely spotless in spring and summer, and has only very small spots in winter, with pale tips to the outer feathers.

The spotless starling also differs in having longer throat feathers, twice the size of the common starling’s. This forms a loose, shaggy beard which is obvious when the pair start to sing.

The legs are a pinkish colour. In summer, the bill is yellow with a base blueish in males and pinkish in females. In winter it is much duller and often looks black. Juvenile birds look like the common starling but are browner all over. Confusion in winter with the common starling is quite normal where they overlap.

Like the common starling, it walks rather than hops, and has a strong direct flight, looking triangular-winged and short-tailed. It is noisy and a great mimic of other birds. Its song is like a common starling’s but louder.

The preferred habitat is open country, from farmland to olive groves and orchards; human habitation is quite common. Most are found in fields following cattle and other livestock.