# Spotless Starling (*Sturnus unicolor*) The Spotless Starling is a shiny black bird with no spots! It loves to sing and can be found in many places. These birds are very social and often gather in big groups. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Spotless Starling](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sturnus_unicolor-male_singing.jpg&width=800) Photo: Peterwchen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sturnus_unicolor-male_singing.jpg) ## Appearance The Spotless Starling has glossy black feathers with a strong iridescent purple and green sheen, especially visible in direct sunlight. Unlike its common cousin, it notably lacks white spots on its plumage. Its beak is yellow during breeding, turning darker outside this period. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Sturnidae - **Genus:** Sturnus ## Interesting facts - Baby Spotless Starlings grow super fast, leaving the nest just 3 weeks after hatching! - Spotless Starlings often join enormous flocks that dance in the sky like a giant, swirling cloud! - These smart birds use tools! They've been seen using feathers to clean their nests. - They can copy sounds from other birds, cats, and even car alarms – they're super mimics! ## Special abilities - **Sound Weaver:** Spotless Starling can mimic other bird calls, animal sounds, and human speech because of its complex vocal cords that help it communicate and sometimes trick predators. - **Murmuration Master:** Spotless Starling has the ability to fly in massive, swirling flocks called murmurations that help them confuse predators and stay safe in numbers. - **Iridescent Cloak:** Spotless Starling has special feather structures that create a shimmering, iridescent purple-green sheen, helping it blend into varied light conditions or attract a mate. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 21-23 cm - **Wingspan:** 38-42 cm - **Weight:** 0.06-0.09 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 80 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-5 - **Incubation:** 11-13 days - **Migration Distance:** 0 km ## Diet & Feeding These adaptable birds eat almost anything, from juicy insects to tasty fruits and human leftovers! - **Age differences:** Young birds mainly eat protein-rich insects for growth. - **Primary Foods:** insects, spiders, olives, cherries, figs, seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — A common predator, especially for young or distracted starlings. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Sparrowhawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-sparrowhawk) (*Accipiter nisus*) — Hunts starlings mid-flight, especially during murmurations. - **Eats:** [Olive Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/olive-tree) (*Olea europaea*) — Feeds heavily on the fruits of olive trees, especially in winter. - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Catches various insects, including flies, for protein. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Spotless Starling? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Spotless Starling? 21-23 cm ### What is Spotless Starling's wingspan? 38-42 cm ### How much does Spotless Starling weigh? 0.06-0.09 kg ### How long does Spotless Starling live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Spotless Starling move? 80 km/h ### What does Spotless Starling eat? These adaptable birds eat almost anything, from juicy insects to tasty fruits and human leftovers! ### Where is Spotless Starling usually found? Urban areas ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Spotless Starling: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotless-starling)