Baby Tui vs Baby Starling - Can You Tell the Difference?

Bby Tūī vs Bby Starling — Spot the Difference! 🐦

One of the most common ID challenges we face at Flock is telling apart a baby tūī and a baby starling. Side by side you can see the differences more clearly — but when you find a tiny fluffball in your garden, it's not always obvious!

How To Tell Them Apart

Baby tūī tend to be darker, with a slightly more curved bill even as nestlings, and their skin has a distinctly dark or bluish tinge when very young. Baby starlings are browner and scruffier looking, often with a pale gape (the yellow/flesh-coloured edge of the beak). As they get older, tūī develop that gorgeous iridescent sheen — but as tiny nestlings, you really do have to look closely!

Why Getting It Right Matters

Tūī are a protected native species under the Wildlife Act 1953, which means they need to come to a DOC-permitted rescue for care. Starlings are an introduced species and can be cared for more broadly. The diet, housing, and rehabilitation pathway for each species is completely different — so correct ID from the start makes a big difference to the bird's outcome.

Not Sure? Just Ask Us!

If you find a baby bird and you're not sure what it is, just send us a photo! We're always happy to help with ID and give you advice on what to do next. You can reach us at flockwellington@gmail.com or through our Facebook and Instagram pages. 🌿

Found a baby bird and not sure what to do? Our guide to Wellington's most searched bird rescue questions covers it. And to see baby tūī growing up, read the early days of raising tūī nestlings.

Related reading: our guide to Wellington's most searched bird rescue questions and raising tūī nestlings at Flock.