Please help id this bird in Phoenix AZ

My friend found this bird in her back yard. It could not fly, so she brought it to me. Sadly, it did not survive whatever happened to it (I think it was attacked by a hawk).

I would like to know what kind of bird it was, if possible.

It's feathers were a quite roughed up, and it appears that it's beak was damaged. I fed it meal worms, which it seemed to enjoy. It had a hard time keeping hold of them, though. About halfway down it's beak, the meal worms would drop out. The poor thing was so skinny, that I'm sure it died of starvation - it was just too late by the time it was brought to me.

It's feathers are black edged with brown, and it has white ticking on its back feathers. There are white heart shaped spots on it's breast and belly. In these pictures, it is panting - after all, the temps here are well over 100 degrees farenheit right now. I never heard it make any sounds at all. And it never attempted to fly. He is about the size of a brown thrasher - slightly larger than a mockingbird.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

Maybe European Starling.

Its beak looks really weird to me. It seems quite long before being damaged.

Cui

Yes, beak looks deformed. I will be curious to hear what the experts have to say.

Yep, a Starling, with a deformed bill. No-one really knows why deformed bills occur, but it happens from time to time; sometimes they can cope and survive, others can't and don't.

Resin

Sorry the Starling didn't make it. :-(

Here's an interesting article on unusual variations and deformities from Cornell Labs "Feeder Watch". It also has links to studies so It's one I've saved for a while.

Kill it , its a major threat to the environment. Very invasive species, propagates like crazy and is known to bring down commercial airplanes and killing folks. In residential areas its favorite pastime is throwing baby birds out of their nests.

dixxie,

You might want to read this:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/681219/

What is invasive here, is considered threatened elsewhere and this forum is now international. Starlings are not the only birds to bring down planes, and sadly the airport authorities get permits to kill some of my favorite species of birds just because of a potential risk.

I am not defending Starlings, I do not like Starlings, but will never tolerate cruelty to any bird, native or non. I used to live in a residential area and never heard of such a "pastime."

I read somewhere recently that Starlings will eat Japanese beetles, another not-native-to-U.S. species. Also they are supposed to be smart enough to be trainable as a pet. And their winter plumage is attractive. Anyway, that is what I tell myself when they mob the feeder.