Today I’ve spent the day writing my tax return when I should have been volunteering with the RSPB at Dove Stone. Maybe I could have been writing about something a little bit more exotic than usual but alas no, the taxman calls. What I have seen is a large amount a species of bird in my garden as I forlornly look out the window.
What: Starling Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758
When: 8th January 2020
Where: My garden, Poynton, Cheshire, UK
Who saw it? Me
How did I record it? eBird (www.ebird.org)
Is it larger than a blackbird? Hmm.. roughly the same size, maybe very slightly smaller.
What is it? A very common but declining bird found just about everywhere in the UK in winter months when are resident birds are augmented by birds from eastern Europe. They have an iridescent black plumage with bright white spots at this time of year, giving them a night sky appearance. They are gregarious, with 63 seen in my garden this afternoon. They are famous for forming huge murmarations in winter, forming many a weird and wonderful shape as they get ready to roost. They are in a steep decline however as a breeding bird in the UK, dropping 50% in 20 years (Balmer et al, 2013).
A fact I have learned about this bird: They have been introduced into other parts of the world, notably to North America, by homesick immigrants from Britain and Europe. They are doing a lot better in their introduced range than in their home range.
My visualisation of this species: Not a photo this time!
Is it charismatic? Yes definitely! Anything that is gregarious is charismatic in my book. I can still hear them chattering to each other even as I write this. They are great mimics, highly intelligent and can make you smile.
A Species a Day 