Common starling

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/common-starling

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Sturnus vulgaris
2. What is the native range?Europe, western Asia, and North Africa
3. What does a Common Starling look like?Common Starlings are medium‑sized birds with a stocky body, short tail, and pointed wings. Their long, slender bill changes from black in winter to yellow in the breeding season. Their feathers are glossy black with iridescent purple and green flashes and white or buff spots.
4. Why do Common Starlings fly in huge swirling groups called murmurations?Murmurations help starlings stay safe by confusing predators like falcons and hawks. The tight, fast‑moving flock makes it hard for a predator to pick one bird out.

Passerine: A bird belonging to the order Passeriformes, characterized by having feet adapted for perching.
Anthropogenic: Originating from human activity or influence.
Interspecific Competition: Competition for resources between individuals of different species.
Structural Iridescence: Color produced by the physical structure of a surface that interferes with light waves.