Birdwatch: have we been getting the unadmired starling all wrong?

Many resent them for bullying smaller birds at the garden feeder but their plumage has an undeniable beautyIf there were a competition for Britain's least admired bird, the starling would be a leading contender for first prize. Only magpies, carrion crows and feral pigeons come close. It's not that we actively hate starlings, although some people do resent their dominance over smaller birds at their garden feeders. But few would admit to actually liking them.Most of the time, we simply ignore their presence - apart, of course, when they gather together, late on winter afternoons, in those celebrated murmurations. Continue reading...