Common Starling vs Great Cormorant
Sturnus vulgaris comparé à Phalacrocorax carbo
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Common Starling | Great Cormorant |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Sturnus vulgaris | Phalacrocorax carbo |
| Ordre | Passeriformes | Suliformes |
| Famille | Sturnidae | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 21,5 cm (8.5 in) | 90,0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Envergure | 37,0 cm (14.6 in) | 145,0 cm (57.1 in) |
| Poids | 78,0 g (2.75 oz) | 2600,0 g (91.71 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Omnivorous — insects and larvae (especially leatherjackets), earthworms, fruit, and seeds. Probes soil with open … | Fish caught by diving from the surface. Pursues prey underwater using powerful feet for propulsion. … |
| Taille de la couvée | 4-7 | 1-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Common Starling only
Great Cormorant only
Aucun(e)
Common Starling
Open countryside, farmland, parks, and urban areas. Forms enormous communal roosts in winter, especially in urban environments.
Great Cormorant
Coasts, estuaries, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Nests in colonies in trees, on cliffs, or on the ground.
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.
Great Cormorant
Deep, guttural grunts and 'karrr' calls at colonies. Bill-clicking and hissing in threat displays. Silent at sea. Colonial noise can be deafening during the breeding season.
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Starling
Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Great Cormorant
Very wide range across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia. One of the most widespread cormorant species.
Statut de conservation
Common Starling
Great Cormorant
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
Great Cormorant
All black with a bronze-green gloss. White throat patch and white thigh patches in breeding season. Yellow-orange face patch around the bill base.
Long, hooked, dark bill with a yellow gape
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.
Great Cormorant
The great cormorant is one of the most widespread seabirds in the world. Unlike most waterbirds, cormorants lack fully waterproof plumage, leading to the iconic pose of standing with wings spread open to dry. In Asia, cormorants have been used by fishermen to catch fish for over a thousand years.