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Species authority page

European starling

Sturnus vulgaris · Unprotected and nuisance birds

European starling (Sturnus vulgaris): Short tail and thin straight bill; 20.6-23.1 cm. Black with purple and green gloss in spring and summer. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the european starling map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

European starling standing on a ledge
Photo by Simerpreet Cheema on Unsplash
Scientific name
Sturnus vulgaris
Family
Sturnidae
In North America
Introduced
Range
Native to Eurasia; introduced in New York City in 1890. Now breeds from southeastern Alaska across southern Canada and south through most of the U.S. to southern Mexico.
Biology

How to identify it

Short tail and thin straight bill; 20.6-23.1 cm. [1][2]

Black with purple and green gloss in spring and summer. [1][2]

Fresh fall plumage heavily marked with white spots, wearing off through winter. [1][2]

Bill bright yellow in breeding season (base of lower mandible blue in males, pink in females), duller otherwise. [1][2]

Juveniles all dusty gray with dark bills. [1][2]

Field knowledge

Where it lives

Cities, parks, farms, open groves and fields; almost any disturbed habitat, usually scarce in extensive wild forest, scrub or desert. [1][2]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Usually forages in flocks, mostly on the ground probing soil; sometimes takes fruit in trees or insects in the air [1][2]

Mostly insects, berries and seeds; often imitates other birds [1][2]

Northern birds mostly move south in fall, migrating by day; southern birds may be permanent residents [1][2]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for removal or nuisance take

These authorities list this species as nuisance, invasive or unprotected wildlife that may be taken. This is not a game season.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Native to Eurasia; introduced in New York City in 1890. Now breeds from southeastern Alaska across southern Canada and south through most of the U.S. to southern Mexico.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. National Audubon Society · reviewed 2026-09-30

    National Audubon Society

  2. NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30

    NatureServe