European Starlings are robin sized birds that when fully grown are completely iridescent black. In summer and spring, adults have pointy yellow beaks with blueish grayish bases, slight speckling on their bellies, pink legs, and grayish bronze-like wings.

Juveniles are all brown, ranging from tan to deep bronze, with a dark bill and dark legs, they also have a slight mask. When they are in between adult and juvenile plumages, they should look like they are speckled with winter adult plumage. Late fall/summer juveniles can have winter adult plumages.

Starlings are similar to all age ranges of Common Grackles, but note that Grackles have pointier bill and long tapering tails. Adult Grackles, unlike all age ranges of Starlings, have yellow eyes with black pupils. Grackles might make similar calls to Starlings, and both Grackles and Starlings prefer the same habitat types. Adult Grackles lack the speckling and the color in wings that starlings have. Juvenile Common Grackles are glossy dark brown whereas young Starlings do not appear to be glossy.

Brown-headed Cowbirds are much like starlings, but note that the adult males have a black body with a brown head and stubby black bill. Note that the juveniles and females have stubby bills, and longer tails, sometimes with a small white thraot. European Starlings also waddle with more enthusiasm than Cowbirds do. Calls and habitats are similar.