A couple of weeks ago I was passing through Bathurst, which is about three hours’ drive west of Sydney. On top of a very large advertising board were some colourful birds. The markings on their feathers reminded me of Little Wattlebirds, but the colours and demeanour of the birds were quite different:

Here’s another of the birds:

After some research, I’ve concluded that these are Common Starlings. These birds were introduced into Australia in the second half of the 19th century. They’re now widespread across the south eastern areas. They don’t go too far north of Brisbane, because the climate up there doesn’t suit them. And Western Australia has managed largely to keep these birds out.

Common name: Common Starling
Scientific name: Sturnus vulgaris
Length: 20-21 cm
Date spotted: 13 April 2024 (autumn)
Location: Maffu Parking Lot, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia: 33°23’43.3″S 149°35’40.8″E