European Starling

I saw a bird right outside my window the other day, and I could not figure out what it was.  It looked like a robin-sized bird that was white with brown streaks.  It was being very conspicuous, singing and stretching its wings, but of course my binoculars were nowhere to be found.  I finally grabbed my camera and this is what I saw.

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

My mysterious brown and white bird had turned into an European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris).  This is the bird was loved by Europeans so much, they brought them in boats to America to let them go (100 birds were released in Central Park, New York, NY in 1890).  The starlings really took off in America, you can find them everywhere.  They compete with native species for nesting sites, and create large noisy and messy roosts

Despite their being invasive, you have to admit they do have pretty feathers.  The Europeans did have a point about how they shine in the sun.  We can see their rainbow sheen and brightness, but E. Starlings can see Ultraviolet light.  They see each other in even more color!