European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is in the Starlings family (Sturnidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 130,226 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph European Starling: observations by month (U.S.)
European Starling by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 19,494 | April | Sep–Jun |
| Texas | 14,294 | April | Jan–May |
| New York | 12,203 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 7,051 | May | Jan–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 5,032 | April | Feb–Sep |
| Virginia | 4,764 | April | Feb–Jun |
| Maryland | 4,763 | April | Jan–Jul |
| Washington | 4,742 | May | Jan–Nov |
| Illinois | 4,532 | April | Jan–Jun |
| Ohio | 4,229 | April | Dec–Oct |
| Florida | 3,823 | April | Dec–May |
| New Jersey | 3,720 | May | Feb–Dec |
| Oregon | 3,349 | May | Sep–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 3,000 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Arizona | 2,489 | April | Dec–May |
| Tennessee | 2,361 | April | Dec–Jun |
| Colorado | 2,010 | April | Sep–Jun |
| Michigan | 1,975 | April | Feb–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 1,801 | May | Feb–Jul |
| Utah | 1,782 | April | Nov–May |
| North Carolina | 1,675 | April | Jan–May |
| Missouri | 1,525 | May | Dec–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 1,439 | April | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 1,265 | April | Jan–Jun |
| Minnesota | 1,230 | April | Sep–Jun |
| Connecticut | 1,159 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Vermont | 1,156 | April | Feb–Jun |
| Arkansas | 1,128 | May | Aug–Jun |
| Kentucky | 1,050 | April | Jan–Jun |
| Kansas | 973 | May | Feb–Jun |
| Louisiana | 895 | April | Feb–May |
| Alabama | 892 | April | Sep–May |
| Idaho | 814 | April | Sep–Jun |
| South Carolina | 814 | May | Oct–May |
| New Mexico | 750 | April | Mar–May |
| Iowa | 720 | May | Oct–Jun |
| Georgia | 700 | April | Jan–May |
| Nebraska | 644 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Delaware | 489 | May | Jan–Nov |
| Montana | 489 | June | Mar–Oct |
| Maine | 453 | May | Jan–Jul |
| West Virginia | 448 | April | Mar–May |
| Rhode Island | 398 | April | Jan–Sep |
| Nevada | 383 | April | Sep–Jun |
| Wyoming | 318 | September | Apr–Nov |
| New Hampshire | 289 | May | Feb–Oct |
| Mississippi | 254 | May | Oct–Jul |
| Alaska | 214 | June | May–Apr |
| South Dakota | 188 | April | Mar–Jun |
| North Dakota | 60 | May | Apr–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Starlings)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph European Starling?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from December to June.
Where is European Starling most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, New York.