On closer inspection: Plumage appearance

From a cursory view, you might easily dismiss a Eurasian starling as a nondescript, black bird. Up close, however, the truth could not be more different. In breeding plumage, there is no glossier British species, with the sheen flickering from purple to green ( right) as the birds’ movements catch the light. Once nesting is over for another year, gaudiness is unnecessary. The postnuptial moult results in duller plumage, with black feathers tipped white, creating a spotty appearance. By spring, the iridescence returns once again.