European Starling (winter plumage)

Here is a European Starling in winter plumage - dark bill, blackish overall with small white spots.  A flock of about five or six of them stopped by today.

European Starling (adult)

The European Starling is oily greenish-black all over with tiny white specks that are barely noticeable this time of year. Note the long, straight bill which is yellow in summer and black in the winter.

A pair of starlings tried to build a nest in our barbeque grill this summer. Random sticks, grass and bits of trash kept appearing in a loose pile. They were so confused when we put a cover on the grill.