Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

The Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is one of our most common and most adaptable birds, which hikers often spot on pastures, at forest edges, and near mountain farms. Young specimens, like the one in the photograph, differ greatly from adults in their uniform grey-brown plumage without a metallic sheen, which provides excellent camouflage in the grass. The starling is renowned as an exceptional singer and mimic of surrounding sounds, with its calls being extremely lively and varied. It grows to a length of 22 centimetres and is a highly social bird that outside the breeding season forms massive flocks performing breathtaking acrobatic flights in the sky.
In the mountainous world, it is most easily observed on the ground, where with quick steps it tirelessly searches for food, primarily insects and their larvae, playing an important role in the natural control of pests. In late summer and autumn, fruits and berries also join its diet, making it sometimes a less welcome guest in orchards. It nests in tree hollows or nest boxes, where the pair carefully prepares space for their young. The starling is partially migratory, as individuals from higher and colder elevations retreat to valleys or warmer coastal areas in winter. With its presence and tireless activity, it continually enlivens the cultural landscape and reminds us of the diversity of life along our mountain paths.