38 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The male is larger than the female. Length, about i6|^ ins. 

 Wing, io"9 ins. Tarsus, 2*i ins. 



Family. STURNID.E. Starlings, 



Starling. Sturmis vulgaris Linn. 



Although one of our best known birds, the status of that avian 

 humourist the Starling (Plate 14) is complicated ; its range 

 extends over Europe, and migrants winter in north Africa. 

 Some of our birds are resident, with us at all times, but others 

 leave in autumn to return in spring as summer visitors, whilst 

 vast hordes come from the north and east to winter here, and 

 some, travelling further south, are birds of passage. When 

 central European birds are arriving in autumn, they may cross 

 the pathway of departing emigrants. 



The beauty of the metallic-hued Starling is little appreciated ; 

 it is often smoke-begrimed or in immature or winter dress, 

 but in early spring, when the buff or white tips that concealed 

 its glories have worn off, it is in a good light a wonderfully 

 beautiful species. The male, with its neck and throat dis- 

 tended, its wings trailing or shivering, perches erect on tree-top 

 or chimney, whistling and chuckling, proud of his charms. 

 His song is a medley of sweet and soft whistles and croons, 

 with cheery laughing bubbles, chatters, chuckles and clicks ; 

 the notes of other birds or animals or merely mechanical sounds 

 are introduced by the imitative bird. It can copy the Black- 

 bird's mellow tones, the Curlew's wild call or the Dunlin's purr ; 

 one bird I knew could tinkle like a particular cycle bell so well as 

 to delude its hearers. Its alarm cry is harsh, a rasping scream, 

 and the anger note, too frequent when the birds should be 

 feeding amicably, is as unpleasant. Immediately the young 

 have left the nest the Starling becomes gregarious ; indeed 

 throughout the nesting season, when breeding birds are 



