The family Sturnidae includes the starlings and mynas. Family members are collectively know as the starlings. The family also used to include the oxpeckers, but they now are thought to be rather distant relatives. Some starling species are good mimics, and the family is related to the mimidae family of mockingbirds. Starlings are small to medium sized. They are usually dark colored, often with a metallic sheen, but some have bright colors. Many species have very bright eyes. The starlings eat insects and fruit. They favor open spaces.


Genus Sturnus

Starling, European aka Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris   Native to: Asia, Europe  Also Found: North America and many others.
Photographed by Dick Daniels in:  1, 2) North Carolina    3) Capetown, South Africa  4) Scotland
4) Adult and juvenile

Genus Acridotheres

Myna, Common Acridotheres tristis   Native to Asia.  Also found: North America, Africa, Australasia
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Nepal  2) Dick - Hawaii   3)  Dick - Johannesburg, South Africa  4, 5, 6) Dick - Australia