A striking photograph of a European Starling, locally known as Sturnell, has been shared on social media after being captured in Malta by local bird enthusiast Benny Scerri at the beginning of this month.

The image highlights one of the island’s most familiar yet fascinating bird species, the Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris).

The Starling is a thrush-sized bird with a glossy black body, speckled with white spots, and a distinctive pointed head. Its triangular wings make it especially recognisable in flight. While its beak turns bright yellow during the breeding season, it remains dark throughout winter. Highly social by nature, starlings are rarely seen alone, often foraging together for insects, seeds, fruit and grain.

In winter, starlings are famous for forming vast flocks that can number in the thousands, gathering at dusk to roost in trees, particularly in urban areas. Their tightly coordinated flight patterns are a spectacular sight and also serve as a defence mechanism, confusing predators such as falcons and harriers.

Although the species is common as an autumn migrant and winter visitor in Malta, it is a rare and localised breeder. Small breeding populations are known on Comino and possibly a few other sites. Despite their adaptability, starlings are declining across Europe for reasons that are still not fully understood, making sightings like this one all the more significant.

Have you ever seen the Starling in person?