Common Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
Despite being red-listed, the Starling is still one of the most familiar birds on the Sefton Coast. Its winter murmurations — thousands of birds forming swirling, shifting shapes in the sky before descending to roost — are one of the great wildlife spectacles and can occur anywhere near the coast. At close range the breeding plumage is beautiful — glossy black with green and purple iridescence and white-tipped spots in winter. The UK has lost two-thirds of its Starlings since 1970, mostly from farmland.
At a Glance
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Sturnidae |
| Habitat | Farmland · Urban areas · Coastal grassland · Any habitat |
| Diet | Earthworms, invertebrates, berries, grain — extremely adaptable omnivore |
| UK population | Around 1.8 million pairs; red-listed due to 66% decline since 1970 |
| Sefton Coast | Common year-round; spectacular winter murmurations near Southport and Marshside |
| Conservation | UK Red List |
Where to See It
Anywhere on the Sefton Coast; winter murmurations often form near Southport or over Marshside reedbeds.
Identification
Stocky, short-tailed bird. Breeding: glossy black with green and purple iridescence. Winter: heavily spotted white. Yellow bill (male) or yellow with blue base (female). Walks on the ground rather than hops.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Watch the sky at dusk in winter near Southport or Marshside for murmurations. The shifting, flowing shapes of thousands of birds are mesmerising. The best displays occur before the roost settles into reedbeds.
Conservation Status
UK Red List
This species is on the UK Red List for Birds (BoCC5), indicating serious concern about its population decline or unfavourable conservation status. Monitoring this species on the Sefton Coast contributes to national population tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do starlings know how to murmur?
Starling murmurations emerge from simple rules — each bird watches its nearest 6–7 neighbours and mimics their movements, keeping a certain distance and matching direction. No individual leads; the patterns emerge from thousands of individual decisions happening simultaneously. The murmurations' cohesion and speed (changes propagate through the flock at 27 metres per second) protect birds from predators — it's almost impossible for a Peregrine to target an individual in the shifting mass.
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.