Common Starling vs Babbling Starling
Sturnus vulgaris compared with Neocichla gutturalis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Starling | Babbling Starling |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sturnus vulgaris | Neocichla gutturalis |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Sturnidae | Sturnidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 21.5 cm (8.5 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 37.0 cm (14.6 in) | 21.6 cm (8.5 in) |
| Weight | 78.0 g (2.75 oz) | 68.0 g (2.40 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — insects and larvae (especially leatherjackets), earthworms, fruit, and seeds. Probes soil with open … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 4-7 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Common Starling only
Babbling Starling only
None
Common Starling
Open countryside, farmland, parks, and urban areas. Forms enormous communal roosts in winter, especially in urban environments.
Song & Call Comparison
Common Starling
A complex mimic: rattles, whistles, clicks, and squeaks mixed with imitations of other birds. Song is a continuous medley. Also gives harsh 'scheer' alarm and chattering.
Babbling Starling
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Starling
Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Babbling Starling
Conservation Status
Common Starling
Babbling Starling
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Starling
Glossy black plumage with iridescent purple and green sheen in breeding season. Winter plumage shows white spotting. Short tail and pointed wings in flight.
Long, pointed bill — yellow in breeding season, dark in winter
Babbling Starling
About These Birds
Common Starling
The common starling is famous for its murmurations — vast swirling flocks of thousands that create mesmerizing patterns in winter skies. An accomplished mimic, it can imitate other birds, car alarms, and phone ringtones. Introduced to North America by a group intent on establishing every bird mentioned by Shakespeare.
Babbling Starling
The Babbling Starling is a medium-sized starling found in open woodland and savanna in Central Africa, weighing about 68g with a wingspan of 21.6cm. It is named for its constant chattering calls and travels in noisy, social groups. It feeds on insects, fruit, and small invertebrates on the ground and in low vegetation.