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Can anyone identify this bird?

(30 Posts)
Katek Tue 21-Feb-17 11:39:29

It's hopping about outside IKEA - sorry about putting it on Chat but Pets didn't seem appropriate.

rosesarered Tue 21-Feb-17 11:42:13

Starling

rosesarered Tue 21-Feb-17 11:43:39

Maybe it wants to buy a billy bookcase.grin

Katek Tue 21-Feb-17 11:47:16

Lol! I've never seen such beautiful colours on a starling.

Greyduster Tue 21-Feb-17 11:52:37

roses grin! To paraphrase Pam Ayres "it's a starlin', me darlin'! They can be a pest, but are the most wonderful mimics.

Katek Tue 21-Feb-17 11:56:03

Is it a young bird? Most of the starlings I've seen look more dull than this. Mind you, they've usually fallen down the chimney.

thatbags Tue 21-Feb-17 12:02:08

The youngest it will be will be a last year's chick. Starlings are very colourful. Maybe you just haven't seen them close enough up till now. They do look black(ish) when seen from a distance.

rosesarered Tue 21-Feb-17 12:02:17

Starlings are beautifully coloured when you see them so close up, almost metallic.

rosesarered Tue 21-Feb-17 12:02:49

X post bags smile

Katek Tue 21-Feb-17 12:08:56

It's almost like the colours/sheen in a petrol spill. You're right bags - have prob never been close up to one before. Hear them before they roost though.

HildaW Tue 21-Feb-17 12:24:02

Its definitely a starling. When I was growing up they were so common and deemed very everyday and boring. We have some birdfeeders here that are very close to a back window so that when they feed you can see them up close and fully appreciate the iridescence of their plumage - especially now that they are smartening up for spring!

hildajenniJ Tue 21-Feb-17 13:15:35

I think starling perfectly describes these beautiful birds. I've always thought that their shimmering colours look like they came from the stars.

Cherrytree59 Tue 21-Feb-17 13:54:37

We are having wonderful 'dancing' flocks of starlings twisting and twirling in the sky.

Starlings in the loft are not good
They peck out th mortar between the bricks and move in!
Unfortunately they return to same place every year.
I had other ideas.

Luckygirl Tue 21-Feb-17 13:56:33

It also depends how the light falls on them, whether you see their lovely colours or not.

Marelli Tue 21-Feb-17 13:59:40

We have lots and lots here in Fife, Katek and we were lucky enough to see a 'murmuration* (?) the other day! Do you have a dearth of these lovely, funny birds up the north-east? In some areas they, like sparrows, seem to becoming less and less.

BlueBelle Tue 21-Feb-17 13:59:47

Starling they do have great colours in the light it's young I would say

goldengirl Tue 21-Feb-17 16:35:44

Yes, it's a starling and they crowd our bird feeder in their droves. The plumage in the sun is gorgeous but they're a load of squabblers grin

shysal Tue 21-Feb-17 16:39:36

Starlings invade my bird feeder too. The babies are the loudest when not yet able to feed themselves. They are messy too, chucking the mealworms and seed everywhere. They are also partial to Chunky Dumpling fat balls, no other brand will do!

Katek Tue 21-Feb-17 17:16:54

They're certainly not common in our garden and no murmurations round about. We're pretty much sea level coastal so don't know if that makes a difference re habitat.

Kitspurr Tue 21-Feb-17 17:22:59

Love the common starling. I believe they're on an endangered list.

Greyduster Tue 21-Feb-17 17:28:03

cherrytree I think we may be having that problem. They Tend to gather on our roof (like a Hitchcock movie hmm) and last year they made a nest inside one of the soffits, but we couldn't get to it. There is definitely something going on because every morning we hear noises that sound like morse code from that general direction. When we open the window and bang it shut, it stops! We haven't seen any sign of them in the loft, but I'll send Himself up to have another look. He got a new flashlight for Christmas grin!

Izabella Tue 21-Feb-17 17:52:23

It's a starling in mating plumage.

Deedaa Tue 21-Feb-17 20:35:03

The starlings should just be coming into their spring plumage now, they are duller in the winter. Young starlings are a dull browm with no spots.

LadyGracie Tue 21-Feb-17 22:28:27

Definitely a starling, such pretty birds.

NfkDumpling Tue 21-Feb-17 22:34:17

We used to have a lot scarifying the lawn for us, but I've only seen a couple this year. Apparently they're getting rarer here, but perhaps with global warming they're moving further north?