Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

I know they're not everyone's cup of tea and that the urban congregations can be noisy, intrusive and frankly annoying, but I have a soft spot for starlings. That's partly because in more rural areas, they are struggling (the widespread use of pesticides reducing their food supplies) and partly because – despite the condemnation inherent in their Latin name – I find their plumage as impressive as any common UK bird's. The greens and purples are iridescent in the right light and the triangular golden flecks shimmer beautifully like arrow heads. This one was shot on a quayside wall in Northumberland.

Canon 1Ds MkII, 1/125 sec, f/6.3, 500mm at ISO 250