Cold winter evenings might not seem like the best time to see nature, but a trip to your local starling roost might change your mind!

Starlings are an easily overlooked garden bird. Starlings appear dark brown or black from a distance. Up close, starlings have stunning green and purple iridescence and white tipped feathers. Iridescence is when feathers refract light at different angles to reflect different colours. This is possible due to a crystalline structure within the feathers. Iridescence has evolved four separate times in birds. Many different species have iridescent feathers but scientists still don’t know why. It’s possible that colourful displays help to attract mates or help to tell species apart. 

Another biological mystery is the starlings second superpower – murmurations. Murmurations are when vast flocks of birds (up to 100,000!) flock together and create beautiful patterns in the sky. No one knows exactly why murmurations occur. Murmurations could be a defense against predators, information exchange, or social bonding.

Sadly, the UK starling population has decreased by 57% since 1995 and is continuing to decline. Providing next boxes, bird feeders and fresh water are all great ways to help starlings.

If you want to see these mysterious and beautiful birds for yourself, now is the time! Head to a nearby starling roost at dusk for a chance to see a murmuration. Starling in the UK have an interactive map to find your local roost which you can access here. You can also record your sightings through the BirdTrack app to help these amazing birds!