Starling Bird Art: Why These Birds Keep Appearing in My Paintings
- Chloe Fenech
- Feb 27
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 8
The starling keeps reappearing in my art, just like the birds themselves return like clockwork each winter on their migration. Over the years I’ve painted them many times, exploring different styles and techniques in my bird art, paintings and collage artwork.
But I often wonder — what is it about these small birds that captures my imagination so strongly?
Perhaps it’s their beauty, their movement, or the memories attached to them. Starlings have become one of the most recurring subjects in my wildlife and bird art, and each painting seems to reveal something new about them.
Iridescent Hues: Why Starlings Are Beautiful Birds to Paint
You can’t underestimate the beauty of starlings if you’ve ever seen them up close. Though small, these dark birds shimmer in the sunlight. Their feathers catch the light with viridian greens, purples and blues, creating an almost metallic glow.
Then there are the tiny white flecks — the “stars” that give the starling its name. These delicate markings give the bird a magical appearance, whether on a bright summer morning or a frosty winter sunrise.
They may not have the bright colours of parrots or the extravagant feathers of tropical birds, but for an artist, their subtle colour shifts and elegant shape make them a joy to capture in bird paintings, collage art, and mixed media bird art.
Murmurations: The Movement That Inspires Bird Art
Nothing compares to witnessing a starling murmuration.
This remarkable flocking behaviour causes thousands of birds to swirl together in the sky, creating constantly shifting shapes and patterns. It’s one of the most mesmerising spectacles in nature, and a powerful source of inspiration for bird artists.
I’ve been lucky enough to see these murmurations in Aberystwyth, Wales, where the birds gather each winter along the beach and pier. At dusk they perform incredible aerial displays before settling down for the night.
They signal the arrival of winter, and then, as the season slowly shifts toward spring, they disappear again — dispersing quietly across the countryside.
During the day, they often gather in nearby villages, filling fruit trees with chatter and movement. For an artist, moments like this are impossible not to sketch or paint.
When Alfie met the starlings
The first time I took my little boy to Wales he was just over a year old.
Wrapped warmly in his pushchair, we walked out onto the cold Aberystwyth pier on a January evening. We pointed up at the sky and told him to watch the birds.
The starlings didn’t disappoint.
Thousands of birds twisted and turned above us, filling the sky with movement and sound. Alfie watched wide-eyed, completely captivated, though we did go home with a small “souvenir” on the pushchair to remind us of the day!
Moments like this often find their way back into my bird artwork, sometimes directly and sometimes more subtly.
My Starling Bird Paintings and Garden Bird Art
All of these memories eventually make their way into my art. The starling has become something of a personal symbol within my work.
According to bird symbolism traditions, the starling can represent transformation, adaptability, and the cycles of nature — ideas that resonate strongly with me as an artist.
Over the years I’ve painted and sketched starlings in many forms:
Sketchbook studies
Acrylic bird paintings
Mixed media pieces
Collage bird art
Murmuration compositions
Some show a single bird perched quietly, while others explore the movement and rhythm of the flock.
Many of my original bird paintings have found new homes, but you can still explore available works in my garden bird art collection, where I share paintings and collage pieces inspired by starlings and other familiar countryside birds.
You can also view my wider collection of available artworks including bird art, garden bird paintings and English landscape paintings at paintingbeautifulplaces.com.
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