Starlings

Murmuration of starling on Anglesey

Starlings at sunset

© @gailjohnson2013

453143607, Anglesey, Birds, Dusk, Flock, Isle, Murmuration, North, Roost, Shape, Starling, Starlings, Sunset, Tree, Wales

European songbirds, chromolithograph, published in 1896

European songbirds: 1) Song thrush (Turdus philomelos); 2) Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula); 3) Rock thrush (Turdus saxatilis); 4) Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus); 5) European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis); 6) Canary bird (Serinus canaria forma domestica); 7) Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes); 8) Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula); 9) Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos); 10) Thrush nightingale (Luscinia luscinia); 11) European robin (Erithacus rubecula); 12) Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla); 13) Eurasian golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus); 14) Pine crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus); 15) Coal tit (Periparus ater); 16) Linnet (Linaria cannabina); 17) Citril finch (Carduelis citrinella); 18) Quail (Coturnix coturnix); 19) Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis); 20) European starling (Starnus vulgaris); 21) Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica); 22) Red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra); 23) Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs). Chromolithograph, published in 1896.

Bird bone tissue, SEM

Bird bone tissue. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of cancellous (spongy) bone from a starling's (Sturnus vulgaris) skull. This tissue, found in the interior of bones, is characterised by a honeycomb arrangement of trabeculae (columns) and spaces. This honeycomb structure provides support and strength to the bone. Magnification: x25 when printed 10 centimetres wide

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