48 COMMON BRITISH BIRDS 



STARLING, (R. Starlings.) 



Size. Blackbird, tail shorter. 



Colour. Black, glossed with green and purple, with 

 points of feathers whitish. In spring most of the pale 

 points wear off the male bird's plumage, leaving "the 

 glossy black. Young birds brown. Bill in spring and 

 summer yellow. 



Note. The Starling's song is rather a singular one, 

 made up in great part of imitations of the notes of 

 other birds. The whistling cry of the Curlew is a very 

 common item in the Starling's morning concert. While 

 singing the Starling keeps up an incessant shivering 

 of the wings and body, with the throat puffed out, 

 and head thrown up, many of the notes thus uttered 

 being scarcely audible. Also has a grating call-note. 



Distinguishing Feature. Dark speckled appearance, 

 short tail, and shivering song. The bill is rather long. 

 In autumn and winter seen in large flocks. 



Nest. In holes in walls, under roofs, &c. Straw 

 and feathers. 



Eggs. Beautiful pale blue. 



Haunts. Fields. 



STONECHAT. (R. Thrushes.) 



Size. Sparrow, small. 



Colour. Male : black with sandy margins to feathers, 

 head, sides of face and throat black, with broad white 

 patch on sides of neck. Small patch of white on upper 

 tail-coverts, tail blackish-brown. Wings blackish with 

 white patch ; breast orange-chestnut, below buff-white. 

 Female : browner all over, no white on upper tail- 

 coverts. The white patches on sides of neck and wings 

 are smaller than in male. Throat ashy, with black 

 patch. 



Note. The call-note is ' utack, tack, tack,' much like 

 that of the Whinchat. 



Distinguishing Fee Jure. The black throat and 

 large white neck-spot m the male Stonechat. In the 

 female the black spot on throat and absence of while 

 on tail will distinguish it from the Whinchat. 



Nest. On ground. 



Eggs. Pale bluish-green, distinctly spotted with 

 Alight reddish-brown. j 



Haunts. Chiefly moorland _ __.. j 



