22 September 2024
How again and again have you ever noticed a chicken and idea, “Oh, it’s only a starling.” Smartly, in Spain it’s no longer simply a starling, it’s a spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor). We noticed this Lifestyles Chook noticed just about on a daily basis at the WINGS Spain in Autumn birding excursion.
Spotless starlings are similar to our acquainted Ecu (or not unusual) starlings. They sing wiry songs and make scratchy noises. They hang around on wires and squabble with each and every different. They make a choice an identical nest websites to not unusual starlings and may also nest communally with them. The massive distinction is that spotless starlings don’t have any spots. They don’t have the “stars” that gave the starling its identify.
Spotless starlings glance oily black within the breeding season …
… and really faintly noticed within the non-breeding season.
In the meantime, not unusual or Ecu starlings (Sturnis vulgaris) are noticed throughout the year and are discovered world wide as a result of people offered them.
In 2023 a workforce of scientists used genetics to decide the World invasion historical past and local decline of the typical starling: insights via genetics. (See map beneath.) The average starling’s largest good fortune has been their invasion of North The usa.
Curiously, I didn’t see any not unusual starlings in southern Spain even though the map says they’re there.
We take Ecu starlings without any consideration as a result of they’re not unusual and are living with regards to us. It used to be arduous to not push aside spotless starlings with the similar “ho hum” when I’d noticed them many days in a row. 😉
(footage from Wikimedia Commons; click on at the captions to look the originals)