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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Common Starling	White-shouldered Starling
Scientific Name	Sturnus vulgaris	Sturnia sinensis
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)	20.4 cm (8.0 in)
Weight	78.0 g (2.75 oz)	61.0 g (2.15 oz)
Diet	Omnivorous — insects and larvae (especially leatherjackets), earthworms, fruit, and seeds. Probes soil with open …	--
Clutch Size	4-7	4
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

Common Starling 21.5 cm

White-shouldered Starling —

Wingspan

Common Starling 37.0 cm

White-shouldered Starling 20.4 cm

Weight

Common Starling 78.0 g

White-shouldered Starling 61.0 g

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

🌾 Grassland

Common Starling only

🏖️ Coastal 🌿 Wetland

White-shouldered Starling only

None

Common Starling

Open countryside, farmland, parks, and urban areas. Forms enormous communal roosts in winter, especially in urban environments.

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Song & Call Comparison

Common Starling

Song

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.

White-shouldered Starling

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Geographic Range & Migration

Common Starling

Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

White-shouldered Starling

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Common Starling

Least Concern

White-shouldered Starling

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How to Tell Them Apart

Common Starling

Plumage

Glossy black plumage with iridescent purple and green sheen in breeding season. Winter plumage shows white spotting. Short tail and pointed wings in flight.

Bill

Long, pointed bill — yellow in breeding season, dark in winter

White-shouldered Starling

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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.

White-shouldered Starling

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Related Comparisons

Common Starling vs Common Blackbird

look-alike

Common Starling vs Common Myna

same-family

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More Birds to Explore

More from Sturnidae

Abbott's Starling Arizelopsar femoralis African Pied Starling Lamprotornis bicolor Apo Myna Goodfellowia miranda Ashy Starling Lamprotornis unicolor All Sturnidae birds →

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