The Starling is a bird which can adapt to most conditions, from those of the remote Shetlands to central London. The Starling has a glossy blue/black plumage with a purple and green sheen, and the beak is yellow. In winter the bird is speckled with white and buff and the beak is a darker hue. There is little difference between the sexes, but the female is more speckled than the male in winter, and less shiny than the male in summer. Young birds are greyish brown.

Starlings run with a curious waddling movement looking for insects and grubs to eat (they are the only birds to look for grubs with their beak open). The favourite food is the larvae of the Crane Fly (leatherjackets). They also eat click beetles and their larvae (wireworms) and other pests. The birds can often be seen amongst cattle feeding on the insects disturbed by the grazing animals. They also pick parasites off the back of sheep. Because of their numbers and also their eating habits, it is not possible to bait or narcotise Starlings, therefore scaring is the only course of action open to pest control, allied with proofing.

When natural food is scarce they can be seen clamouring for bread, fruit and other kitchen scraps, often bullying other birds to ensure that they get more than their fair share. They also damage crops by eating soft fruit, apples and pears, and sprouting cereals.

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