The unusual bird was noticed on the powerlines outside a house in Newman Place and the description resembled that of a starling.

Department of Agriculture and Food project manager, Mac Jensen, said European starlings were a declared pest that was prohibited in Western Australia, and this meant any birds found are removed.

"The department is currently undertaking a successful starling eradication program on the South Coast, so it is important that any new sightings outside of this region are reported immediately," he said.

"Department staff have conducted early morning and late evening searches for the bird but are also relying on local residents to keep a look out and report anything unusual as well."

Mr Jensen said starlings presented an extreme threat to Western Australia and were considered a major pest of primary production.

"Starlings have the potential to damage cultivated grain and horticulture crops, foul wool and damage buildings through nesting," he said.

"Where breeding populations become established, they can also create a nuisance by fouling buildings and public spaces with their droppings and cause a disturbance with their excessive noise at roosting sites."

Mr Jensen said starlings also competed with native birds for food and nesting sites, and had the potential to cause negative impacts on biodiversity.

"European starlings are about 21cm long, twice the size of swallows and stockier, with fine, pointed beaks and short tails," he said.

"They are usually seen in flocks and they move across the ground by waddling, not hopping, and prefer feeding in open grassland, although they are found in many habitats from urban to rural.

"They are sometimes seen standing on the backs of sheep or cattle or following the livestock around in the paddock, collecting disturbed insects."

Any sightings of starlings or other unusual birds should be reported to Michael Allingame at the department’s Carnarvon office on 0447 882 681or alternatively contactthe Pest and Disease Information Service on freecall 1800 084 881.