Starling murmuration over the ruins of Brightons West Pier, England Jan. 8, 2026

When a bird is called a starling, you"d expect it to be a bit of a show-off. True to its name, this little creature knows how to steal the spotlight. From shimmering feathers that glint green and purple in the sun to its ability to mimic sounds, the starling is the headline act. Originally native to Europe and Asia, the common starling has spread across the globe.

© Philip Reeve/Photodisc/Getty Images

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Today in History

Where we go to play
Jan. 8, 2024Bernina Pass, Graubünden, Switzerland
Jan. 8, 2025The Great Wall of China

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Jan. 15, 2024Northern Lights
Aug. 27, 2023Jeju Island, South Korea
Aug. 16, 2024Canadian National Exhibition 2024
Apr. 28, 2024El Capitan in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, USA
Jul. 31, 2024Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
The road less taken?
Oct. 1, 2025Clark Range, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Jun. 14, 2025Cinque Torri, Dolomites, Italy
High above the Aegean Sea
The Coast of Death
May 2, 2025Striated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, Brazil
May 5, 2024Kalaloch Tree of Life, Olympic National Park, Washington, US
Aug. 20, 2025The citadel in Bonifacio, Southern Corsica, France
Sep. 24, 2025Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, United States
May 17, 2025A delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy
Nov. 27, 2023Río Negro, Amazon basin, Brazil
Jan. 10, 2026The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee at sunrise, Zermatt, Switzerland
Mar. 7, 2024Roques de Benet, Els Ports Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
Jan. 9, 2025Sossusvlei sand dunes, Namib desert, Namibia
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May 2, 2026Jasper National Park in Alberta
Dec. 20, 2025Christmas star lanterns, Germany
The origin of Canadas national parks
Oct. 30, 2023Common raven
Dec. 20, 2023Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy
May 16, 2024International Day of Light
Nov. 2, 2023Death Valley National Park, California