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Definition of european starling
european starling
Plural:European starlings
european starling Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
7
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A medium-sized passerine bird (Sturnus vulgaris) native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, recognized by its glossy, iridescent dark plumage and speckled appearance. It is highly adaptable, known for forming massive, swirling flocks called murmurations, and is considered an invasive species in North America.
Example
"The sky darkened as thousands of European starlings gathered in a mesmerizing murmuration over the autumn fields."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name pairs its native geographic origin, Europe, with 'starling', which derives from the Old English 'stær' (starling) combined with the diminutive suffix '-ling'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of European starling. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/european starling