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Feathers and moulting
All birds change their feathers every so often.
They get dull and worn out, so to look good, keep warm and stay airborne, they need to be replaced.
This is called 'the moult' or 'moulting'.
Because of the different coloured feathers they grow, it's really easy to spot in starlings.
Click through the photo gallery to find out more.
When young starlings leave the nest, they're brown all over.
Next, the awkward, inbetween stage. This starling has a brown head but is growing new, black feathers. Starlings need to be able to fly at all times, so moulting is a gradual process. You might see brown starlings with funny-looking black patches on their bellies.
During autumn and winter, most starlings you'll see will be covered in white spots. Unlike leopards, starlings do change their spots...
By the breeding season, most starlings will not be very spotty. The white spots are on the very tips of their feathers, which wear away first. So starlings look sleek and glossy in time for finding a mate.