Starling?

[Alanandlyn]

I think this is a juvenile starling but my ageing bird book doesn't describe them. I'm assuming the adult colouring comes later. Also it seems to be a loner, not what I expect of a starling and it's very friendly, letting me get quite close.

Can someone confirm that it is a starling?

[wildliferescuer]

Yes you are right. Juvenile starling.

[Picidae]

Lovely juvenile Starling! Don't worry about it being on it's own - most of them fledged several weeks ago and are feeding independently by now - it will join up with a post breeding flock in the next month or so once Starlings have finished their breeding.

By then, the body feathers will have started to moult, leaving a rather peculiar two toned looking individual with spotted darker plumage with a retained pale head! By Autumn, it will look almost 'normal'!