Strange bird ID?

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Sep 04, 2006 10:15 pm

I thought this was a European Starling, but then when I downloaded the pics, I saw this weirdness! Does anyone know if this is normal or a parasite of sorts.

It reminds me of the wasps that lay eggs on the catapillar and they have these things extruding from them? I hope that's not the case here!

Anyone?

Garden_of_Mu · Post by **Garden_of_Mu** » Sep 04, 2006 10:26 pm

The starlings here are speckled just like that for part of the year. Solid colored the rest. Bet the europeon ones do the same. Ours don't have that light colored head though.

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Sep 04, 2006 10:35 pm

Our's are dark headed also. I've never seen one like this. I wonder if it's a juvenile maybe? I hate the things, they are horrible when they come through in the spring and fall, making a mess of everything. Although pretty in the sunlight, I've always been glad to see them gone!

The head is what threw me off also, but those white protusions were really odd in the pic. I'll have to do a search on starlings, and see if maybe I can find something. Otherwise, I'm lost on this one!

petal*pusher · Post by **petal*pusher** » Sep 05, 2006 9:03 pm

Jane....those same flocks must be visiting MY yard too!!

I have never noticed them before....they sure look and act like our common starlings....but that light colored head throws me! I found a pic that called them "white headed starlings".....

http://terryg.smugmug.com/gallery/1280783/33/90988589

I was hoping Snow could give us some info on 'em!!....p

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Sep 05, 2006 9:25 pm

We get them for maybe a week this time of year and in the spring migration mostly. They never stay, but come through in hordes! It's really noisy, and they disrupt the others birds lives for the week they are here!

This one though is really weird. The site you sent was the bird alright. Although when I did a search, everything I can find on one is that they are from India? Nothing about them here in the U.S.? We have over 30 species over the last 20 years we've fed birds, and NEVER had this one before. Although we've had 2 new species, just this week.

We've been delighted to see a family (mom, pops, and a juvenile Northern "Yellow-Shafted" Flickers. Very cool to have new ones

Thanks for the ID. Now to find more info on them, as you say, maybe Snow will see this and come through? One can hope!

Annie · Post by **Annie** » Sep 06, 2006 6:38 pm

mmmm looks like what we call Cowbirds. Maybe a yound one?

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Sep 06, 2006 6:49 pm

Ack! The body definately appears to be that of a starling. I dont know what the head appears to be

If it were just one individual, I would say partial albinism. That doesnt appear to be the case

I still think it's some sort of starling, though. This time of year (here) the youngsters gather together in large flocks, and I'm not certain but they may head south for their first winter, while the parents stick around. The juvies are more speckled and lighter in color, but I've never seen that white head!

Adult male European Starlings are less spotted below than adult females. Juveniles are dull brown, and by their first winter resemble adults but are browner especially on the head. Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... Binomial name Sturnus unicolor Temminck, 1820 The Spotless Starling, Sturnus unicolor is a passerine bird in the starling family Sturnidae. ...

I cant find the info I was hoping for, either. I did find a picture that some lady took of two birds like yours at her birdbath. She referred to them as immature European starlings. Was she right? I have no clue - lol.

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Sep 06, 2006 6:50 pm

And of course - the suet-eating is another clue that it could be a starling.

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Sep 06, 2006 7:01 pm

Ok here is what I think - my most educated guess. I suspect those have to be European starlings, juveniles, in the process of molting to winter plumage. Something in some of these birds may cause the feathers on the head to contain so many white speckles that it appears mostly white - or else their heads are featherless and appear white. Here is a photo of a juvenile beginning it's molt into it's first winter plumage:

(note that a juvenile's plumage is a solid dark grey before molt)

This is a starling in full winter plumage (adult or juvenile regardless)

A breeding adult starling is much more black, with considerably less white speckling, and has a yellow bill - as opposed to the black bill of immature and wintertime birds.

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Sep 06, 2006 7:06 pm

petal*pusher wrote:Jane....those same flocks must be visiting MY yard too!!

I have never noticed them before....they sure look and act like our common starlings....but that light colored head throws me! I found a pic that called them "white headed starlings".....

http://terryg.smugmug.com/gallery/1280783/33/90988589

I was hoping Snow could give us some info on 'em!!....p

Ohhhh - your link actually answers it! Look closely at the picture:

You can see here that this bird's head is missing it's darker feathers. They just havent grown in yet! European starling in molt, it is!

petal*pusher · Post by **petal*pusher** » Sep 06, 2006 10:13 pm

Thanks Snow! There were hundreds in the yard...mixed in with regular starlings and blackbirds. The noise was deafening...........but I loved it!.....p

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Sep 06, 2006 10:29 pm

Now I never would have figured this out as you have! Thanks for you input. In all the years I've watched these birds come and go, I've never seen one with this color of head before! Thanks!