STARLINGS — BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 



286 



FAMILY STURNIDiE: STARLINGS. 



GENUS STURNUS. 



[493.] Sturnus vulgaris Linn. Starling. 



Primaries ten, but first quill minute ; bill straight, nasal feathers erect or 

 inclined backward ; nostrils with conspicuous nasal scale. Adults in sum- 

 mer : glossy greenish or purplish black, speckled with buff y brown and 

 whitish; wing- and tail feathers largely edged with brownish buff; bill 

 yellow. Adults in winter : upper parts light brown ; under parts whitish, 

 spotting- often so eonspiciious as to obscure the underlying- green and 

 purple. Length: 7.50-8.50, wing 5.00-5.10, tail L'.OO-^.OO," bill .95-1.00. 



Distribution. — Europe and Asia ; accidental in Greenland. Introduced 

 about New York city and in the vicinity of Portland, Oregon. 



Nest. — In holes in trees or about buildings. Eggs : 4 to 7, pale green- 

 ish blue or bluish white. 



FAMILY ICTERIDiE: BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



1. Bill short and conical. 



m 



2. Tail feathers stiff and pointed. 



Dolichonyx, p. 28(5 



Fig. 350. 2'. Tail feathers normal. 



3. Four outer primaries cut out 



Fig. 351. 

 Callothrus, p. 288. 



3. Primaries normal Molothrus, p. 287. 



Fig. 352. 

 r. Bill not short and conical. 



2. Tail feathers stiff and pointed. 



Sturnella, p. 292. 

 2'. Tail feathers not stiff and pointed. 



3. Tail graduated and folded laterally. 



Quiscalus, p. 301 



3'. Tail mainly even, not folded laterally. 



Fig. 355. 



4. Feet weak, for perching Icterus, p. 293. 



4'. Feet strong, for walking. 



5. Claws of side toes reaching beyond middle toe ; 

 males in summer blark witli yellow heads. 



Xaiithocephalus, p. 288. 



Fig. 366. 



