Starling

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. The name "Sturnidae" comes from the Latin word for Starling, sturnus. Starlings have been proven to possess strong feet, their flight is strong and direct, and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. Several species live around human habitation, and are effectively omnivores. Many species search for food by opening the bill after probing it into dense vegetation; this behavior is called "open-bill probing" or is referred to by the German word "zirkeln".

Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. Most species nest in holes, laying blue or white eggs.

Starlings originated on Earth in the Sol System, but have since been bred on planets in the Inner and Outer Colonies. On Harvest for example, starlings were bred along with other hardy bird species to help contain the planet's essential insect population.