starling

noun

star·​ling ˈstär-liŋ How to pronounce starling (audio)
: 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
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 culprit behind the spread of the virus could be non-native European starling populations, a species that was first introduced to New York City in 1890, the Nevada Department of Wildlife said in a Facebook post last March. — Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025 There may be no better example of this reflexivity than the AI trade as investors move like a flock of starlings. — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2025 Potential Problems Due to Bird Nesting Sparrows, wrens, blue jays, mallards, starlings, doves, and pigeons are just a few types of birds that commonly nest near humans. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2025 The strain is common among the starlings that migrate through Nevada in the winter and might have carried the virus into the state, the Nevada Department of Agriculture shared on Facebook last March. — Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for starling

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English stærlinc, from stær starling + -ling, -linc -ling; akin to Old High German stara starling, Latin sturnus

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of starling was before the 12th century

Rhymes for starling

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Cite this Entry

“Starling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/starling. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

starling

noun
star·​ling ˈstär-liŋ How to pronounce starling (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on starling

Nglish: Translation of starling for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about starling

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