Photo by Tanya Hart
Common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are an amazing species, most commonly known for their large social flights at dusk called murmurations which can contain thousands of individuals. These flocks of starlings appear from the distance as large strangely moving clouds and have been a fascination of scientists and non-scientists alike since they were first seen. They are highly social, and many species stay in foraging flocks year round.
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More information about the common starling:
Bousquet, Sumpter & Manser, Proc R Soc B 278, 1482–1488 (2011) Trillmich, Fitchel & Kappeler, Behaviour 141, 1103–1120 (2004) Asher & Bateson, Laboratory Animals 42, 111–126 (2008) Birds of North America Online Royal Society for the Protection of Birds |