: any of a family (Sturnidae, especially genus Sturnus) of usually dark gregarious oscine birds
especially
: a dark brown or in summer glossy greenish-black European bird (S. vulgaris) naturalized nearly worldwide and often considered a pest
Examples of starling in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The starling lived with Mozart and his family for three years—apparently influencing his work and serving as his companion, his distraction, his consolation, and his muse.
—
The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
The scene was ethereal, like being in the middle of a starling’s murmuration.
—Jennifer Billock, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2024
The location of the camera is unknown aside from being in a garden in Northern Indiana, but viewers can see a large variety of songbirds from cardinals and cowbirds to starlings and sparrows.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Apr. 2024
But in the mid-20th century, its numbers plummeted and the birds disappeared completely from some parts of the state, victims of habitat loss, chemicals, global warming, and invasive species like the European starling and the house sparrow.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for starling 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
The scene was ethereal, like being in the middle of a starling’s murmuration.
—Jennifer Billock, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2024
The location of the camera is unknown aside from being in a garden in Northern Indiana, but viewers can see a large variety of songbirds from cardinals and cowbirds to starlings and sparrows.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Apr. 2024
But in the mid-20th century, its numbers plummeted and the birds disappeared completely from some parts of the state, victims of habitat loss, chemicals, global warming, and invasive species like the European starling and the house sparrow.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for starling
Dictionary Entries Near starling
Cite this Entry
“Starling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/starling. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
starling
noun
star·ling
ˈstär-liŋ 
: any of a family of usually dark-colored birds that tend to flock together
especially
: a dark brown or in summer glossy greenish black European bird that has been brought to the U.S. and is often considered a pest
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share