Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

Taxa

Sturnus

Bird Genera

Sturnus is a genus of starlings, family Sturnidae, comprising two extant species, the common starling and the spotless starling, with representatives across most of Eurasia and the common starling introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Members are terrestrial birds that walk rather than hop, with skull and muscle modifications suited to open-bill probing in soil; they nest in holes, feed omnivorously on invertebrates on the ground, and show the familiar triangular starling wing shape.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Genus 1
Scientific Name
Sturnus 1
Member Species/Taxa Count
2 1
Geographic Distribution
Occurs across most of Eurasia; the common starling has been introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand 1
Defining Characteristics
Terrestrial starlings that walk rather than hop, with skull and muscle modifications for open bill probing in soil 1
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Plumage is variable among the species but all show the starling's familiar triangular wing shape 1
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Africa

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Asia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Australia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

North America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Sturnus - Wikipedia
  • Lead sentence
    Sturnus is a genus of starlings.
  • Lead sentence, genus name
    Sturnus is a genus of starlings.
  • Lead paragraph, species count sentence
    Two extant species are recognized
  • Lead paragraph, distribution sentence
    This genus has representatives across most of Eurasia and one species, the common or European starling, has been introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
  • Description section, locomotion sentence
    The Sturnus starlings are terrestrial species; they walk rather than hop, and have modifications to the skull and its muscles for open-bill probing.
  • Description section, appearance sentence
    The plumages within this group are variable, but all the species have the starling's familiar triangular wing shape.
  • In Group: Starling Genera, Lead
    Sturnus is a genus of starlings. As discussed below, the taxonomy of this group is complex, and other authorities differ considerably in which species they place in this genus, and in the species boundaries within Sturnus.
View the Source
2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ333842, descriptionView the Source
Wikidata: Sturnus
Wikidata Q333842, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.