European Starling

# Evolutionary Timeline of the European Starling The European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) belongs to the family Sturnidae within the order Passeriformes. Its evolutionary history traces back to the origins of birds and the diversification of songbirds, shaped by environmental changes like climate shifts, habitat alterations, and competition. Key pressures include adaptation to temperate climates, urbanization, and resource availability, leading to traits like vocal mimicry and gregarious behavior. ### Key Milestones - **Late Jurassic (150-160 million years ago)**: Ancestral birds evolve from theropod dinosaurs, such as Archaeopteryx, setting the stage for avian flight and diversification. - **Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary (66 million years ago)**: Mass extinction event eliminates non-avian dinosaurs, allowing avian lineages, including early passerines, to radiate. - **Eocene-Oligocene (34-56 million years ago)**: Diversification of Passeriformes (songbirds) in response to forested habitats and insect abundance. - **Miocene (5-23 million years ago)**: Emergence of Sturnidae family in Eurasia, with adaptations to open grasslands and social foraging amid cooling climates. - **Pleistocene-Holocene (Recent)**: European Starlings adapt to human-altered landscapes, expanding ranges and developing urban resilience through omnivory and intelligence.