Spotless Starling
Sturnus unicolor
Also known as: Estornell Negre
Habitat
Ground
Diet
Omnivore
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
84 g
About This Species
This glossy, all-dark starling is common in towns, farmland, and open country across Iberia, often seen foraging on the ground in small flocks for insects and fallen fruit. Look for its iridescent sheen in good light and listen for a varied, chattering song, frequently given from rooftops or wires. It is resident year-round, and large communal roosts in autumn and winter offer particularly striking views as flocks gather at dusk.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- A common and adaptable species, so standard care applies: keep enough distance to avoid flushing a foraging flock, and observe roosts from a distance rather than approaching the roost site directly.
- Wildlife protection law applies primarily within Spain and Portugal, its core range, so check local regulations if visiting known roost sites.
- Watching from a stationary position at dusk, rather than walking toward a gathering roost, avoids disturbing large numbers of birds at once.
LCAvesPasseriformesSturnidae
Seasonal Activity
1,030,319 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Sturnidae
Traits
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Foraging
- Ground
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 84 g
Photo
(c) Luca Ghiraldi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Luca Ghiraldi
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.