The bird (Sturnus vulgaris) is one of the most common in the world. It has a body length of 19 to 22 centimetres, a short tail and a long, sharp beak. The body feathers are blackish with a metallic green or purple sheen with white to beige tips. This gives the body a brightly dotted appearance. The starling lives on insects and worms, which is why it is one of the beneficial insects in viticulture in spring and summer, but also on fruits, seeds and seedlings. At the time of grape ripening, it is one of the most dangerous damaging birds in viticulture, because (in contrast to thrushes) it can appear in huge flocks, which can cause considerable crop loss or damage from game.
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