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Spotless starling; Estornino negro

Sturnus unicolor

Description:

It is closely related to the Common Starling S. vulgaris, but has a much more restricted range, confined to the Iberian Peninsula, northwest Africa, southernmost France, and on the islands of Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica. The adult Spotless Starling is larger than the Common Starling and has darker, oily-looking black plumage, which is entirely spotless in spring and summer, and only with very small pale spots in winter plumage. Its legs are bright pink. In summer, the bill is yellow with a bluish base in males and a pinkish base in females; in winter, it is duller, often blackish. Confusion with the Common Starling is particularly easy during the winter when Common Starlings are abundant throughout the Spotless Starling's range. Like the Common Starling, it walks rather than hops, and has a strong direct flight, looking triangular-winged and short-tailed. It is a noisy bird, and a good mimic; its calls are very similar to the Common Starling's, but are louder.

Habitat:

Small village at the montains, above 1000 m. high.

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/640 sec.; f/13; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm.

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arlanda
Spotted by
arlanda

Navarredonda de Gredos, Castilla y León, Spain

Spotted on Dec 6, 2013
Submitted on Jan 21, 2014

Related Spottings

Sturnus nigricollis Sturnus vulgaris Common Sterling European Starling

Nearby Spottings

Dedalera. Foxgloves Espuela de caballeros Rosa. Rose Erodium carvifolium?

Reference

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