STARLING

15th March 2024

Photo Credit: chris2766 (Getty Images), CANVA

QUOTATION

He said he would not ransom Mortimer,

Forbad my tongue to speak of Mortimer.

But I will find him when he lies asleep,

And in his ear I’ll hollo “Mortimer.”

Nay, I’ll have a starling shall be taught to speak

nothing but “Mortimer” and give it him

To keep his anger still in motion.

HOTSPUR: Henry IV, Part 1, Act 1, Scene 3

STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

Hotspur in the quotation above, intends to train a Starling to torment Henry IV. Starlings are remarkable mimics and reproduce a range of sounds.

Starlings are very social, noisy birds, taking to the skies in formations called murmurations. In flocks they look very dark but up close their dramatic colours are more visible. There are Starlings in Britain year round but birds from northern Europe also visit in the winter.

More Information

British Trust for Ornithology: Starling

Folger Shakespeare Library: Search Shakespeare’s Works

RSPB: Starling