Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
European Starling vs Red-winged Blackbird
European Starling
European Starling • Wikimedia Commons
European Starling
European Starling • Wikimedia Commons
European Starling
European Starling • Wikimedia Commons
European Starling
European Starling • Wikimedia Commons
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird • Wikimedia Commons
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird • Wikimedia Commons
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird • Wikimedia Commons
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird • Wikimedia Commons
European Starling vs Red-winged Blackbird (Sturnus vulgaris vs Agelaius phoenicuses): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The speckled one and the shoulder-patched one. Three rules:
- Male shoulders: red epaulets = Red-winged; no patches, just speckles = starling.
- Tail: short and squared = starling; longer and rounded = Red-winged.
- Female: gray-brown with spots = starling; boldly streaked like a giant sparrow = Red-winged.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The introduced starling and the native marsh blackbird, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | European Starling | Red-winged Blackbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sturnus vulgaris | Agelaius phoenicuses |
| Length | 8.5 in (21.5 cm) | 8.75 in (22 cm) |
| Wingspan | 16 in (41 cm) | 13 in (33 cm) |
| Weight | 2.1–3.4 oz (60–96 g) | 1.1–2.7 oz (32–77 g) |
| Overall Shape | A stocky, short-tailed, speckled blackbird with a pointed bill | The marsh blackbird — males flash scarlet-and-yellow shoulder epaulets |
| Male Plumage KEY | Glossy purple-green-black in breeding plumage with a yellow bill; heavily speckled in winter (sexes alike) | Glossy black with red shoulder patches edged in yellow — flashed in display |
| Female Plumage KEY | Identical to the male | Heavily streaked brown all over — looks like a giant sparrow |
| Bill Shape | Yellow in spring and summer, dark in winter — long and pointed | Conical, sharp, black |
| Tail | Very short, squared | Medium, rounded |
| Core Range KEY | Nearly continent-wide — cities, farms and suburbs everywhere | Marshes, wet meadows and fields continent-wide |
| Migration | Mostly resident; huge wheeling winter murmurations | Partial migrant; huge mixed winter flocks in the South |
| Feeder Presence | Swarms suet and seed feeders in gangs — a classic feeder bully | Swarms platform feeders for sunflower and millet near wetlands |
| Favorite Foods | Insects, seeds, fruit, garbage — a generalist omnivore | Seeds, grain, insects |
| Song | A jumbled, squeaky medley with whistles and mimicry | A gurgling “conk-la-ree” from a cattail top |
| Flight Call | A descending “tcheer” and metallic squeaks | A sharp “check” and high “teee” |
| Population Trend | Abundant introduced species; competes with native cavity nesters | Still abundant though declining; the voice of American wetlands |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
European Starling — Male
Sturnus vulgaris
- Glossy speckled black, yellow bill, very short tail.
- Squeaky, musical, mimicking jumble of a song.
- Gangs take over suet feeders in minutes.
Red-winged Blackbird — Male
Agelaius phoenicuses
- Glossy black with red-and-yellow epaulets.
- Sings “conk-la-ree” while flaring his shoulders.
- Fearlessly dive-bombs hawks, herons and people.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
European Starling — Female
Sturnus vulgaris
- Identical to the male.
- Nests in any cavity — evicting bluebirds and woodpeckers.
- Winter murmurations wheel in the thousands.
Red-winged Blackbird — Female
Agelaius phoenicuses
- Heavily streaked brown — a giant sparrow look.
- Weaves a hanging nest in cattails.
- Winter flocks mix with grackles and cowbirds.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | European Starling | Red-winged Blackbird |
|---|---|---|
| Male Plumage | Iridescent with buff speckles; glossy in summer | Glossy black with red-and-yellow epaulets |
| Female | Gray-brown, lightly spotted | Boldly streaked brown, pale eyebrow |
| Tail | Short, squared | Medium, rounded |
| Bill | Thin, pointed; yellow in breeding season | Conical, black |
| Flocking | Tight wheeling murmurations | Looser marsh and field flocks |
| Song | Squeaks, whistles, mimicry | Liquid “konk-la-ree” |
| Habitat | Cities, lawns, feedlots | Cattail marshes, wet meadows |
Song & Call Comparison
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Song: a jumbled squeaky medley with whistles, clicks and mimicry.
Calls: a descending tcheer and metallic squeaks.
European Starling voice • Wikimedia Commons
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoenicuses
Song: a gurgling, metallic conk-la-ree.
Calls: a sharp check and high teee.
Red-winged Blackbird voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The European Starling is everywhere — cities, suburbs and farms across the continent, all year.
The Red-winged Blackbird breeds in marshes and wet fields across North America, wintering in the southern half in huge flocks.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- European Starling: the suet raider — flocks strip cakes fast; use upside-down or caged suet feeders.
- Red-winged Blackbird: millet and cracked corn on the ground and platforms, in season-long flocks.
- Both mob feeders in late winter when natural food runs low.
- Defense: weight-sensitive feeders and safflower reduce pressure from both.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
European Starlings are frenetic — probing lawns in gangs, muscling into nest cavities, murmuring at dusk.
Red-winged Blackbirds are bold and defensive — males flare their epaulets and dive-bomb anything near the marsh.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Male. Red shoulders = Red-winged; speckles = starling.
- Female. Streaked = Red-winged; gray-brown spotted = starling.
- Tail. Short = starling; longer = Red-winged.
- Bill. Pointed yellow = starling; conical black = Red-winged.
- Habitat. Marsh = Red-winged; city lawn = starling.
- Song. “Konk-la-ree” = Red-winged; squeaky mimicry = starling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a starling from a Red-winged Blackbird?
Male red-wings are glossy black with red-and-yellow shoulder patches; starlings are speckled and short-tailed with pointed bills. Females differ too — streaked brown (red-wing) vs spotted gray-brown (starling).
Which one is the invasive species?
The European Starling — about 100 birds released in Central Park in 1890 became a continent-wide population.
What is the streaky brown bird at my feeder?
Most likely a female Red-winged Blackbird — they look like giant sparrows and fool everyone.
Why do starlings spear the lawn?
They probe for grubs and insects with their pointed bills — a behavior called “prying.”
Do they flock together?
In winter they join mixed blackbird roosts numbering in the millions, with grackles and cowbirds too.
Are starlings protected?
No — as an introduced species, starlings are not covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, unlike the native red-wing.
Key Takeaways
- Male: Epaulets = Red-winged; speckles = starling.
- Female: Streaked = Red-winged; spotted = starling.
- Tail: Short = starling; longer = Red-winged.
- Bill: Pointed yellow = starling; conical = Red-winged.
- Habitat: Marsh = Red-winged; city = starling.
- Status: Starling introduced; red-wing native.