starling

noun

star·​ling ˈstär-liŋ 

: any of a family (Sturnidae, especially genus Sturnus) of usually dark gregarious oscine birds

especially : a dark brown or in summer glossy greenish-black European bird (S. vulgaris) naturalized nearly worldwide and often considered a pest

Examples of starling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Safflower seeds also attract a wide variety of birds, with the advantage that squirrels, blue jays, starlings, and grackles do not like this seed. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026

The only consolation is that the birds that are shrinking in numbers the fastest are species — such as the European starling, American crow, grackle and house sparrow — that aren’t yet at risk of going extinct, said study lead author Francois Leroy, also an Ohio State ecologist. —Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026

If humans could perceive the ultrasonic range, rat chirruping would be as much the sound of New York as sparrows, starlings, and traffic. —Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 12 Feb. 2026

When the kestrels were flying nearby, robins, grackles, and starlings were much less likely to visit orchards and eat fruit. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 27 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English stærlinc, from stær starling + -ling, -linc -ling; akin to Old High German stara starling, Latin sturnus

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for starling

• carling
• harling
• marling
• snarling
• sparling

Kids Definition

starling

noun

star·​ling ˈstär-liŋ 

: any of a family of usually dark-colored birds that tend to flock together

especially : a dark brown or in summer glossy greenish black European bird that has been brought to the U.S. and is often considered a pest