Eagle in de skies? Nope, a European Starling
Oh, I meant Eagle in disguise, a European Starling. Couldn’t resist. They both do have feathers, fly and are birds. And both have sharp bills and a piercing stare. The Starling’s stare might even look more menacing.
One is respected in the U.S. and one is despised. We are in awe of one and the other; despite having beautiful plumage, is hated because it arrived from Europe and their population numbers exploded.
A collective group of starlings are called a “filth”, “scourge” and “vulgarity” of starlings. The nicer collective nouns are “constellation” and “murmuration”.
Anyway; Barbara, here is your Nightingale.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my European Starling photos plus facts and information about this species.
That bird has THE coolest markings!
A beautiful capture, Mia! The Starling does have nice iridescent colors!
With that plumage it is easy to see where the ‘constellation’ noun of congregation comes from. Thank you – a beautiful bird. And I love its piercing gaze.
Excellent photograph of this starling! The plumage is really quite striking.
Hi, Mia, You really captured the “stars” in the starling’s plumage! Yesterday we saw a murmuration of birds that had the whole sky darkened… getting ready to migrate. The geese were going in the wrong direction as there was a storm off shore. And yesterday was the first day I didn’t hear a cricket. It was a day of changing… you could feel it in the air…
hahaha you got me with your eagle title =))
nice starling shoot indeed, thanks mia
have a nice day
amazing shot! .. I need better words to describe it . A lot of your photos approach ‘painting’ status, this is definitely one of them..
You sure caught his iridescence! They are interesting birds, even beautiful, but their grating, loud, raucous voices, voracious appetites, messy pooping, and overwhelming presence (which threatens and crowds out so many other birds), make them unwelcome guests.
Marvelous! Such great lighting and so crisp.
Oh, you have shot the Starling with ease, outstanding photo.
They are very pretty birds but they eat everything up I put out in the feeders before the other birds get there.