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Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) The Common Starling is one of the earliest heralds of spring. If it has gone away it returns in February or March. Starlings stay in flocks at first, but as soon as the weather improves the males turn up at nest boxes, singing with half-spread wings and open bills. They are found anywhere where nest boxes are available and man-made nest boxes have contributed to the vast expansion of Starlings. They originated in deciduous woods where they used to nest in hollow trees and find food in meadows or grassland. The nest is built by the female, although her mate helps to bring in the materials consisting of dry grass, twigs and feathers. The four to six beautiful green-blue eggs are incubated by the female at night and by both partners during the day. The young hatch in 14 days and leave the nest box some 18 to 22 days later. From the age of 14 days they accept food from the adults, rattling loudly at the entrance to the nest box. Starlings are basically black, with a beautiful metallic sheen. The individual feathers are white-tipped, but these tips wear off gradually throughout spring, so that by June the Starling is almost uniformly black. From July the black plumage starts moulting and is replaced by streaked feathers. The bill also changes colour from the yellow of spring and summer to brown in autumn and winter.

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