Wild Child: Who do I see flying around?

3 Starlings sit in the snow. Their white spots are clearly visible on their darker bodies.

Have you noticed flocks of dark brown or black song birds sitting in tree and making a lot of noises? Drawing attention to these sights and sounds around us is a great way to engage in conversations with our children and model how to describe what we see and notice.

This week I noticed the whistling, squealing, trilling and generally musical but noisy sound of flocks of starlings. Here are some things you can look for to identify and describe these birds.

Size/Shape

These birds are medium sized, larger than a sparrow but smaller than a robin. They have blocky bodies and short tails.

Colour

They change appearance between seasons. In the winter they are dark brown and covered in white spots or speckles which fade to a glossy dark colouring by summer. They can appear iridescent purplish-green up close. They have pink legs and slender orange beaks. (This lets you distinguish them from Grackles).

Behaviour

These birds are bold and loud making lots of rattling and whistling sounds and flocking in larger groups. They will search for food in the grass and perch in trees and on wires in large groups.

Habitat

Starlings tend to be found in urban areas and in fields. They are also frequently seen perched in trees and on telephone wires in their big groups.

More information

If you would like to learn more The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has as great set of pages with interesting facts and information about this fun and boisterous species of bird. You can also listen to recordings of their songs.

For a short but helpful video explaining how to spot a starling, click here.

Written by Tandy Morton, Wild Child Outdoor Playgroup Facilitator