Passing migrants: starlings
Photo: Arne Ader
Translation: Liis
Starlings on power lines
Starling Kuldnokk Sturnus vulgaris
In the fair autumn weather the passing migration of starlings that have been nesting in the north and east still lasts. It will end only with winter weather and ice cover on water bodies. Starlings are truly good flyers; in a ranking of similar species they are just barely second to swallows; one thousand kilometres a day of migration, favourable weather and so they are in the Dutch wintering areas, and from there move on to South Europe or North Africa.
The plumage of the migrants hasn’t the familiar springtime bright metallic sheen, it is brownish with noticeable white flecks. The wings are triangular, the flight fast and straight-forward.
The migrants feed on the buds of trees and berries as well as apples left on the trees.
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