European Starling or Common Grackle: how to tell the difference?

european or common starling (Surnus vulgaris) and common freckles (Quiscalus quiscula) They look very similar at first glance, which means identification might be a problem. We’ve put together this guide to highlight the differences between the species to help you tell them apart more easily.

The most obvious difference between grackles and starlings is that starlings have black eyes, pink legs, and a short, slender yellow beak (breeding birds), while common grackles have black legs, black beak, and yellow eyes. Spotted birds are also usually larger than starlings and have longer tails.

These are the best ways to differentiate the two, although there are more reasons – we’ll discuss below.

common freckle perched on a branch

European starling close up

other differences

Common Grackles are native to the United States and will eat just about anything – however, they do like to eat crops (mainly corn). These birds have bright golden eyes that give them a focused look. Grackles also tend to travel in large, noisy groups. Females are similar to males but less glossy.

European mynahs primarily eat insects and seeds, and if you’ve ever been fed them at a feeder, you know how quickly they clear them. Starlings also travel in groups, but they’re usually quieter than gracks — and they can be noisy, too. Starlings are not native to the United States, either.

When it comes to length, grackles can reach lengths of up to 20 inches, while starlings typically only reach 12 inches in length. Freckles also have longer tails than starlings, which are usually shorter than their bodies and have no patterns or visible markings. The freckled tail is sometimes as long as the bird’s height and displays orange patches in flight.

European starling in winter plumage

Similarities Between Common Grakle and European Starling

Both the common grackle and the European starling have shimmering, iridescent plumage. Starlings look more freckled, while in their winter plumage they have black beaks, and their plumage becomes more spotted and less vibrant. The beaks are similar in length and shape, but starlings tend to have longer and thinner beaks.

They also tend to congregate in groups.

Do finches and starlings get together?

Yes, mynahs and finches have been known to congregate occasionally when nesting season is over. This can make identification even more confusing.

Are Grackles and Starlings the same bird?

No, they are two different birds. Common Grackles are members of the Troupials and Allies families, and the European mynah is part of the mynah family.

Common grouper perched on a tree

Fun Facts About Common Grackle

• The Common Grackle is part of the Troupials and Allies family (Icteridae), which includes 105 species of birds. Species of this family are found throughout North and South America. Because these birds have sharp beaks, they can open them with force, which gives them the ability to pierce and pry open bark or open soft fruit.
• Male and female gracks can often be distinguished by body size. This is because they are sexually dimorphic – which is found in many birds in which females are often smaller than males.
• When humans approach their nests, gracks use alarm calls to alert other birds to the threat.
• Like crows and ravens, spot-billed finches have the ability to recognize and remember individual human faces. They can also imitate the sounds of other birds, and sometimes even humans.
• Unlike other birds that hop on the ground, grackles prefer to walk.
• You’re more likely to see grackle that’s common in women than in men. This is because female groupers are much more numerous because they have a longer life expectancy than males because they require less food.

European starling on the ground

Interesting Facts About European Starlings

• It is thought that about 100 starlings were released into New York City’s Central Park in 1890 and 1891. This makes the success of the European mynah really incredible, as there are now thought to be more than 200 million of these birds in North America. Populations are now spread across most of the continent from those few birds.
• Worldwide, there are 123 species of myna family (heronidae). A wide variety of plants can be found in Asia and Africa. The most common bird in this family is the European mynah.
• European starlings inhabit a wide variety of habitats if a few key needs are met. Most often, you’ll see starlings foraging on low lawns and fields in urban areas. During non-breeding periods, starlings explore different habitats such as salt marshes, orchards, garbage dumps, swamps and tidal flats.
• Starlings will inhabit trees, reeds, and even downtown buildings. In Europe, winter roosts can reach over a million birds. In Israel, 5 to 8 million birds have been reported in a single nest!
• Starlings have strong jaw muscles that they use to drive their beaks into the soil for insects to eat. They also occasionally catch flies in the air.
• Starlings have a tendency to destroy other birds’ nests from time to time, which has drawn the attention of bird authorities around the world. That’s because it can lead to declines in native bird populations around the world.