White-headed, monk-headed, and white-tailed starlings
Across all the phenotypes of starlings, white-headed, monk-headed, and white-tailed plumage variations are present regardless of outside variation. White-headed starlings (also referred to as blasse starlings) have a characteristic white head which is demarcated by white plumage which begins at the base of the upper mandible and wraps around the upper back portion of the head beneath a shell crest. [2] It most closely resembles that of the mookee. The monk-headed starlings have an entirely white head with a slight ruff around its base. [2] The demarcation here instead starts at the undercut of the throat and lower mandible, running 3/4 of a centimetre (7.5mm or 0.29in) under the eye to the back of the head. [2] The border of the head should not be too high or low cut. [2] Monk-headed starlings should also have 7-9 white flight feathers, a white tail. White feathering at the heel joint is not discouraged. [2] Lastly in white-tailed starlings, all twelve tail feathers should be white with the underside tail wedge being the body colour of the bird. [2] White-tails also possess a pea-sized white mark between their eyes that meets with the cere. [2]
Barred starling
The term "starling" is most often applied to the barred starling, defined by its deep iridescent plumage, white-barred coverts, bare legs, plain uncrested head, and crescent shaped neck marking defined by either white tipped feathers, or a starling-esque light smattering of red and gold flecks. [4] The white bars and white crescent this variety possesses should be unobstructed by jagged lines and should remain a consistent thickness throughout their length. [3] [4] The crescent should be 3cm (1.2in) wide and clearly defined against the rest of the plumage if white or grey. [2] While the breed can have streaks and flecks of brown across its body, [5] these marks should not be present on the primaries or tail. [2] The body plumage should have an appreciable lustre, [5] [4] which is most commonly a metallic green shade, but can also be a pink or purple. [4] Common points of scrutiny for the plumage of the barred starling are the wing bars, the crescent, and the head and legs, the latter of which should be devoid of feathering. [5] It is permitted for barred starlings to exhibit a shelled-crest. [1]
Barred starlings exist in a variety of colours, including blue, red, and yellow, [2] though black is the most esteemed by breeders [4] and remains the most popular. Blue barred starlings sport the plumage of the ancestral rock dove, with blue-grey bodies, black primaries, and pale grey wing coverts with the addition of the barred starling's plumage characteristics. [2] They are subject to the same standards as black individuals, where the white markings of the neck crescent and wing bars are expected to be obvious and untarnished by jagged edges or mottled feathering. [2] The wing bars on a blue barred starling should also be edged with thinner black. [2] The red and yellow barred starlings sport entirely ruddy red or gold plumage respectively, the only white parts of their plumage being the characteristic crescent and bars which are subject to the same regulation as the blues and blacks. [2]
Marble starling
Originally bred in Württemberg, [1] the marble starling (also referred to as the marmor startauben [1] or marmostar [2] in German) appears far different in plumage to the barred starling, being bred exclusively in black and possessing delicately interlacing white feathers across its black wing shields which become thicker and more chaotic down the coverts, ceasing at the primaries and giving way to solid black interrupted only by pearl coloured tips on each flight. [2] The lacing in the wing shield is produced by the white edges of the feathers within the plumage, creating interlocking triangles. [2] It is likely this lacing pattern which caused breeder Robert Fulton to claim the starling to be "closely allied" to porcelain pigeons (Hyacinths) [3] in his 1876 book; The illustrated book of pigeons, with standards for judging, as the marbled starling and Hyacinth are superficially reminiscent of one another in their laced patterning. It possesses also a white crescent which is far more chequered in appearance than that of the barred starling and its colours. The crescent should be higher up the neck and narrower. [2] Though the marble starling lacks the same colour variants as the barred, monk-headed, blasse, and white-tailed plumage variations do exist. [2] All marble starling variations are clean legged. [1]
