Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Migratory bird with white sparkling, overall dark, metallic shining feather dress. This species has been introduced to North America and can be both helpful and harmful to agriculture by either controlling invertebrate pests or damaging themselves fruits and growing sprouts.
- 🇫🇷 Étourneau sansonnet
- 🇩🇪 Gemeiner Star
- 🇲🇽 Estornino pinto
Characteristics
- Length: 25-30cm
- Weight: 60-90g
- Wingspan: 45-50cm
How to Identify
Dark bluish to greenish, metallic shining feather dress with white spots. Usually appears in nearby parks in small flocks, resting in the top of trees, feeding on the ground.
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Where and When to Spot
Early spring till late autumn in all parks around Montreal.
Observations by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champ des Possibles | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Angrignon | x | x | - | - |
| Parc Michel-Chartrand | x | - | - | - |
| Parc de la Frayère | x | - | - | - |
| Parc des Rapides, Lachine | x | x | - | - |
"-" indicates no observation. It may not necessarily mean though that the species is absent from the park during that season.