Can anyone identify this bird?

Haven't seen a starling for years here, but in North Devon there used to be plenty and in the cities in the North ( years ago) there would be thousands of them roosting in and on the buildings making a real racket.

I'm feeling quite envious of all these murmerations! Even the RSPB reserves in Norfolk haven't had much. Where are they?

KateK when H was still working he would stand on the roof of his works and watch the murmerations over the estuary when on late shift. Hugh flocks of literally thousands of birds. So I don't think being at sea level is a factor.
We get plenty of starlings at our bird table

We have had starling murmuratiobs every night for the last two weeks or more ?
For the first 3-4 days we were mesmerised - now we are just covered in starling poop - the windows, the cars, the patios and paths - and US when we venture out .... However a murmuration is a pretty cool phenomenon ??

Definitely a starling, a spiv of the bird world I think.
British starlings migrate to Africa in the Autumn I believe and those from colder northern climes come here for the winter.
I too remember how they would all come and eat every bit of food put out in the garden but I haven't seen any in my garden for years. As a child I would knock on the window to shoo them away but they'd be back in seconds.
I saw a lot in Lytham St Anne's about 3 years ago, they obviously know the posh places to hang around !!!!!

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?

Definitely a starling, such pretty birds.

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.

It's a starling in mating plumage.

cherrytree I think we may be having that problem. They Tend to gather on our roof (like a Hitchcock movie ) 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 !

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

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.

X post bags

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

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.

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.