Spotless Starling?

Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor) in the Netherlands?, Oudeschild, Texel, Noord-Holland 10 October 2006

An unusual dark Starling was found on the 10th of October 2006 on the island of Texel, the Netherlands. The bird was already seen on Sunday the the 8th. Could this be Holland's first Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)? The bird is very dark, has not much spotting and has very pink legs (with white claws), the bill is yellow with a pale blue base. The bird is holding a territory on a chimney in the morning (at least on the 10th) and was found in the afternoon in the harbour area of Oudeschild where it could be observed at close range with other Starlings on the car park, near the fish and chips place and on the roofs of the buildings. It sometimes sings, which is rather Starling like but has some odd notes in the song and often gives a rather peculiar call.
According to the bill color this bird can be sexed as a male. Ageing this bird is far from easy, if not impossible. The outer two primaries (P8 and P9) are brown and worn, could these be still juvenile feathers or are they unmoulted and very worn and bleached adult feathers? Also it is visible on the images that P7 is still growing, so this bird is still in active moult.
If these are adult feathers, this bird should not be a Spotless Starling since it is too spotty for an adult male, according to most literature. Or is it possible that in a very fresh plumage adult males does show some very pale edges to the feathers and which will wore off in no time. If it is a late moulting bird could this explain the bare part colouration? It seems that the bird is also still moulting its body feathers, with a mixture of old brown feathers and new white tipped feathers. A Common Starling should now be spotted all over its plumage.
All white tips are similar in shape, on each side of the shaft there is a thin white crescent divided by a black line. It seems unlikely that these all these white tipped feathers are worn feather tips.
If these are two outer flight feathers are juvenile feathers can a Spotless Starling, assuming is it one, in its first winter plumage be so advanced in bare part coloration? Or could this be a second winter male?
I also would like to see images from Spotless Starlings and Common Starlings or even hybrids in this kind of plumage.

If there is anyone who can shine a light on this bird let me know.

A sound file of a weird call after preening and than singing is included

Sound file

These two images were made on the 15th, as you can see P7 has grown further, compare with the image from Patrick Palmen.

These two images were made by Jan van der Laan.

Not difficult to pick out from the Common Starlings! (Patrick Palmen)

Note the dark under wing coverts and the two old and worn outer primaries (P8 and P9). On the right picture (made by Marten van Dijl) some pale tips to the covers can be seen. Is this underwing dark enough? The bird is still in active moult, as seen by the short and growing P7.

These two pictures again show the active primary moult of P7 and the two old P8 and P9 as well as the dark underwing. These images were made by Patrick Palmen.

Note the undertail coverts which have on each side of the feather tip a small white crescent divided by a black line. Rather spiky crest and sturdy bill. The pale tips on the greater coverts is shine and not pale edges. See for details other images below.

Note the same type of small crescents on the tertials and greater coverts.

Note the purple and green shine on the greater coverts. Also on the flank feathers again the same crescents divided by a small black line.

Note the purple and green gloss on the head and flanks. Also green gloss on the rear flanks and breast side.

The purple gloss is now not shown, only green. Is this oily green as in the descriptions of Spotless Starling?

Again note the purple and green gloss on the greater coverts and the flank feathering.

Now only purple on the greater coverts, note the small white tips on the tertials and greater and lesser coverts and some on the mantle feathers. All pale tips on the feathers seem to be very similar. A small white crescent on each side of the tip divided by a small black line.

Note the purple gloss on the head and nape with some green on the ear coverts.

Note the two outer most old primaries, could they be juvenile feathers or old and worn adult feathers? Also the outer one (or possibly two) secondaries are old.

Again the tips to the undertail coverts. Is there any difference in the tail between Spotted and Common? Can it be aged on this tail?

Anymore information, suggestions etc is more than welcome!! E-mail me at info [@] cursorius.com