common starling

3.2

A small bird that lives in groups with dark shiny feathers and often nests near buildings

noun
/ˈkɑːmən ˈstɑːrlɪŋ/

: estornino común

A flock of common starlings gathered on the telephone wires as dusk approached.

Examples

The common starling is known for its ability to mimic the calls of other birds and even human sounds.
Many common starlings gather in the park every evening.
A group of common starlings are often seen searching for insects on suburban lawns.
The common starling is known for its beautiful feathers.
A flock of common starlings gathered on the telephone wires as dusk approached.
Many common starlings gather in the park every evening.
A group of common starlings are often seen searching for insects on suburban lawns.

Synonyms

Sturnus vulgaris

vscommon starling

Specialized

8.2

A common bird with dark shiny feathers that nests near people

is the everyday common name used by people rather than the formal scientific label

How Rare

extinct

102 3.6

alala

Specialized

1 9.9

endangered species

50 3.2

rare bird

Informal

1 7.7

common starling

3.2

Surface Forms

common starling singular

common starlings plural

Morphology

common + starling

This is a straightforward noun phrase formed compositionally from 'common' (widespread/usual) + 'starling' (a songbird), so the meaning 'a widespread/typical starling species' is directly derivable from the constituents. It follows regular adjective + noun modification patterns and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

The name common starling may come from the bird's speckled, shiny feathers that look like tiny stars, so people thought of it as a 'little star' and the name came to mean this small, spotted bird.