Silver Novice of the Wirral
The not so Common Starling
Common Starling - ‘Albino’
The common starling or European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), also known simply as the starling in the British Isles, is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is about 20 cm (8 in) long and has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song.
Email sent to me 23rd March 2021: Thank you for contacting the RSPB.
It looks like you have may have seen a leucistic starling! Leucism is a condition where a genetic mutation results in partial loss of pigmentation. Many birds appear white all over, but some also have random white, pale brown or diluted-looking feathers. Leucistic birds retain their normal dark eyes and can fare well in the wild. They are actually commonly seen (compared to albino birds) and a variety of species are affected. If you are interested, you can submit the leucistic bird to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) via their Abnormal Plumage Survey
Kit used: Nikon D7100 & Nikkor 200mm 1:4 lens.
Ref 3964 - 11th March 2021
The not so Common Starling
Common Starling - ‘Albino’
The common starling or European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), also known simply as the starling in the British Isles, is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is about 20 cm (8 in) long and has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song.
Email sent to me 23rd March 2021: Thank you for contacting the RSPB.
It looks like you have may have seen a leucistic starling! Leucism is a condition where a genetic mutation results in partial loss of pigmentation. Many birds appear white all over, but some also have random white, pale brown or diluted-looking feathers. Leucistic birds retain their normal dark eyes and can fare well in the wild. They are actually commonly seen (compared to albino birds) and a variety of species are affected. If you are interested, you can submit the leucistic bird to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) via their Abnormal Plumage Survey
Kit used: Nikon D7100 & Nikkor 200mm 1:4 lens.
Ref 3964 - 11th March 2021