Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise a large, heterogeneous group of chemicals that raises concerns for both human and environmental health. Recently, the attention has shifted toward emerging PFAS, expected to be less persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic than long-chain relatives, but more used and discharged in environment. However, up to date, the information on the occurrence, the fate and the potential toxicity of emerging PFAS, both individually and in mixture, in natural ecosystems is very limited. Thus, there is an urgent need for the implementation of comprehensive monitoring programs to support the exposure assessment and to explore biological effects of environmentally relevant PFAS. This study, aimed at evaluating the adverse effects induced by the contamination from a perfluoropolymer plant (PFP) located in the Western sector of the Po River valley (Northwestern Italy). From 2022 to 2024, before breeding season, nest-boxes for the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) were installed in the surroundings of the PFP and in a rural area (RA) serving as control. The first-laid egg was collected to measure PFAS levels, while blood samples were collected from 8-10 days old nestlings to assess oxidative stress related endpoints. In detail, the modulation of the activity of the main antioxidant (SOD, CAT and GPx) and detoxifying (GST) enzymes as well as changes in lipid peroxidation levels (LPO) and relative telomere length (RTL) were evaluated. PFAS contamination measured in eggs from PFP was significantly higher compared to RA. Accordingly, a modulation of antioxidant enzymes, followed by an overall increase in lipid peroxidation levels and RTL shortening, were observed in nestlings from the PFP compared to RA. Our results showed that the exposure to environmentally relevant mixture of PFAS can induce adverse effects on free-living organisms, suggesting the necessity of field studies to assess the risk of these emerging compounds.