starling
starling Lexical Profile
starling Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various small to medium-sized passerine birds of the family Sturnidae, native to Eurasia and Africa, characterized by their dark, often iridescent plumage, highly gregarious flocking behavior, and remarkable vocal mimicry.
"During the autumn migration, thousands of starlings gather in the evening sky to form mesmerizing, swirling murmurations."
North American Specifically, the common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), an Old World bird introduced to North America in the late 19th century, where it has since proliferated and is often considered an invasive species.
"The farmer installed nets over the berry bushes to protect the crop from flocks of foraging starlings."
• Rhymes for starling
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'stærlinc', a diminutive form of 'stær' (starling), ultimately from the Proto-Germanic root '*staraz'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.