European Starling

The European Starling, or Sturnus vulgaris, is a passerine bird native to a vast range across Europe and western Asia. Its history in the Western Hemisphere is marked by an intentional introduction to North America in the late 19th century, famously released in New York City’s Central Park by Eugene Schieffelin. Schieffelin reportedly sought to introduce every bird species mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare to the United States, an ambition that inadvertently established the starling as one of the most successful and widespread invasive species in modern ornithological history.

The species is distinguished by its short, pointed wings and a distinctively short, notched tail, which facilitate its characteristic direct, rapid flight pattern. The design of its plumage is highly seasonal; during the breeding months, adults display a dark, iridescent metallic sheen, while winter plumage features a dense pattern of white speckles that appear as stars, a detail that informs its common name. The species has been heavily documented by naturalists for its vocal complexity and social intelligence, though it is frequently viewed with ambivalence by conservationists due to its competitive displacement of native cavity-nesting birds.