European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
E32382
The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a highly adaptable, social songbird native to Eurasia, known for its iridescent plumage, complex vocalizations, and large, synchronized flocks called murmurations.
Observed surface forms (2)
| Surface form | As subject | As object |
|---|---|---|
| European starling | 92 | 2 |
| Sturnus vulgaris | 0 | 1 |
Statements (92)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
bird species
→
passerine → songbird → |
| activityPattern | diurnal → |
| averageLength | about 20 cm → |
| averageMass | about 60 to 100 g → |
| averageWingspan | about 31 to 44 cm → |
| billColor |
darker outside breeding season
→
yellow in breeding season → |
| binomialAuthority |
Carl Linnaeus
→
surface form:
Linnaeus, 1758
|
| breedingSystem | socially monogamous with extra-pair copulations → |
| class | Aves → |
| clutchSize | typically 4 to 6 eggs → |
| commonName |
European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
self-link
→
surface form:
European starling
common starling → |
| conservationStatus | Least Concern → |
| conservationStatusSystem |
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
→
surface form:
IUCN Red List
|
| diet |
earthworms
→
fruits → grains → insects → seeds → spiders → |
| ecologicalImpact |
can damage agricultural crops
→
competes with native cavity-nesting birds → |
| eggColor | pale blue → |
| family | Sturnidae → |
| fledgingPeriod | about 21 days after hatching → |
| flightPattern |
strong direct flight
→
synchronized flock movements → |
| flockingBehavior | forms murmurations → |
| foragingBehavior | ground forager → |
| genus | Sturnus → |
| incubationPeriod | about 12 days → |
| introducedBy | Eugene Schieffelin → |
| introducedByOrganization | American Acclimatization Society → |
| introducedRange |
Argentina
→
Australia → Chile → Falkland Islands → Hawaii → New Zealand → North America → South Africa → |
| introductionEvent | introduced to North America in 1890s → |
| introductionLocation | New York City → |
| kingdom | Animalia → |
| legalStatusInUS | invasive species → |
| legColor | pinkish-red → |
| lifespanWild | typically up to 5 years → |
| maximumRecordedLifespanWild | over 15 years → |
| migrationPattern |
partial migrant
→
resident in parts of range → |
| morphologicalFeature |
pointed wings
→
short tail → straight pointed bill → |
| nativeRange |
Europe
→
central Asia → western Asia → |
| nestSite |
buildings
→
nest boxes → tree cavities → |
| nestType | cavity nester → |
| order | Passeriformes → |
| phylum | Chordata → |
| plumageCharacteristic |
dark glossy plumage
→
iridescent feathers → pale spots in winter → |
| populationTrend |
declining in some native regions
→
increasing globally → |
| primaryPredators |
birds of prey
→
mammalian carnivores → |
| reproductionSeason |
early summer
→
spring → |
| roostingBehavior | forms large communal roosts → |
| scientificName |
European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
self-linksurface differs
→
surface form:
Sturnus vulgaris
|
| sexualDimorphism | subtle differences between males and females → |
| socialBehavior |
forms large flocks
→
highly gregarious → |
| taxonRank | species → |
| typicalHabitat |
farmland
→
grassland → open woodland → suburban areas → urban areas → |
| usedInResearch |
model species for social behavior
→
model species for vocal learning → |
| vocalizationCharacteristic |
complex vocal mimicry
→
imitates mechanical sounds → imitates other bird species → |
| vocalizationType |
calls
→
song → |
Referenced by (4)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
→
commonName
→
European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
self-link
→
subject surface form:
European starling
this entity surface form:
European starling
this entity surface form:
European starling
European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
→
scientificName
→
European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
self-linksurface differs
→
subject surface form:
European starling
this entity surface form:
Sturnus vulgaris