To celebrate the beginning of spring in the Gaelic calendar, ornithologist Seán Ronayne is across the schedule on RTÉ lyric fm with a new series to discuss the distinct bird songs, melodies and calls that we have today in Ireland. Listen to Sean singing the praises of the starling above...
About The Starling: Starlings, at first glance, are a plain-black monochrome little bird. But look closer, and they will blow you away. In winter, their feathers are donned with silver, sequin-like specks throughout. And in summer, these flashy little sequins float in a sea of purple and green iridescence.
Starlings are also amazing mimics. They are lifelong song learners, unlike other birds who have a critical learning window of a few months before their songs are crystallised for life - set in stone.
As starlings have the propensity to continue updating their song, they perfect it and polish over their entire lifetimes. The longest-living starling on record is 22 years and 11 months, so you can only imagine what a song that bird must have had...
Bird Songs with Seán Ronayne, RTÉ lyric fm, February 1st – 16th - listen back here
