Which description best describes the starling bird?

• A. Small as a sparrow
• B. Same size as crow
• C. Short tail
• D. Long tail

Answer: (C)

Describing a bird by its body proportions helps you identify it. The starling is a medium-sized, compact bird, about 8–9 inches long, which places it between a small songbird and a crow in size. Its tail is relatively short compared with its body, so describing it as having a short tail fits what you’d observe in the field. A long tail wouldn’t match its typical outline, and the size options describe it as either much smaller or much larger than it actually is. So the most accurate description is that it has a short tail.