Starling
Scientific name: Sturnus vulgaris
Other name: European Starling, Common Starling
A female Starling with more spots on the underside, and a yellow bill.
Starlings are native to most of Europe and western Asia, but have been introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand where they can be regarded as pests by competing with native species and damaging some crops. There is some evidence that the release of 1890 in the U.S.A. was to introduce all of the bird species mentioned in the works of Shakespeare.
In the garden Starlings can help to remove cutworms such as Leatherjackets, but as they forage they can leave the lawn looking untidy by pulling up thatch and Moss.
A male Starling with its longer throat feathers which are used for display and the greyish base of its bill.
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