In the golden light of morning, a European Starling perches resolutely among the budding branches. Though modest in size, he bears the shimmering armour of a bird forged by evolution to dazzle. Each feather is etched with iridescent greens, purples, and blues—tiny mirrors catching the sun in a fleeting spectacle of brilliance.
He scans his territory, alert and poised, a sentinel of the treetop realm. Moments from now, he will burst into song, a complex composition of clicks, whistles, and mimicry—some of which he has learned from other species. Few birds are as adaptable, as resilient, or as underappreciated as the starling. In flocks, they become poetry in motion—murmurations that shape the very sky.
But here, for now, there is only him. Stillness. Light. And the quiet power of presence.
Sturnus vulgaris
Shot with:
Canon EOS 6D + Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3
600mm | 1/4000 | f/6.3 | ISO5000