Common Starling

Common introduced resident. At a distance looks blackish; longer-billed, shorter-tailed and stockier than [Black-bellied Starling]. Sexes similar when not breeding (winter). Immature mouse-brown with whitish throat. In flight appears sharp-winged cf. [Wattled Starling]. Call is a grating ‘tcheerr’; also a rambling song of throaty warbles, ‘chirrup’ notes and creaking whistles. Walks with a quick, jerky action, occasionally runs or hops, and feeds mostly on the ground. Often in flocks, especially when roosting. Occurs in various man-made habitats, including suburbia, playing fields and farms.