The common starlings is both a sedentary and migratory species, depending on where they breed. As dusk arrives, the starlings set off for their communal roost in one of the most staggering natural spectacles of all. According to the BTO's Migration Atlas, no starlings, ringed as chicks in the UK, have been recorded outside the UK. Can swallows stay in the air for up to two years? A murmuration of starlings is a remarkable wildlife spectacle to witness. Clearly these maps are somewhat biased by the fact that they are limited to movements of birds banded or found in the UK … and there are only so many directions they can fly without ending up in the ocean … but there is a similar NE-SW pattern. Around 800,000 pairs of starlings breed in the UK. Hey David, If you have the British “Migration Atlas” (Wernham et al. Do starlings migrate? Although it probably evolved to live on steppe grassland and salt marshes, the Skylark has long been the epitome of a farmland bird. ... Find out about migration marvels, fantastic flights and amazing journeys. ), take a look at the starling maps in there. Many non-birdwatchers who have never had a close-up view of a Skylark will know its distinctive, endlessly variable song as a cornerstone of farmland and the British countryside. Our expert murmuration guide explains what a murmuration is, the science behind them and the best places to see a starling murmuration in in the UK. These starlings will normally stay here all year round. During the winter months, large numbers of starlings visit Britain from the continent, seeking out the relative warmth of our island climate.