European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Here’s a descendant of the first 100 European Starlings that were released in NY City’s Central Park in the early 1890s. The Starling population is now estimated to be over 200 million birds.
While this bird is less than 20 miles from the park others have spread across the continent. Starlings are now one of the most numerous birds in North America. Starlings are very gregarious and are often seen in huge flocks with some reported to be over a million strong.
Blame Shakespeare. Eugene Schieffelin of The Acclimation Society of North America was dedicated to introducing all the birds mentioned in the Bard’s works.
Starlings will nest in the same spot year after year. I have a pair that takes advantage of a crack at the peak of the garage roof. (caused by a daughter that drove into the center support) Being just out of reach they drive the cats nuts.
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March 18th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
It looks like it’s a good time of year for birds. I’ve never seen a starling before. I like all of the white speckles.
March 19th, 2009 at 8:23 am
I never liked starlings until a baby fell out of its nest–twice–and I took it to a bird rescue but it died. I think its mother pushed it out, frankly, and I felt sorry for it. Our starlings here are plain black, no white bits, but iridescent black.
March 19th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
OMG now I know for sure that what’s eating in my bird feeders are starlings!
Everyone has attempted a guess but I think you nailed it, good show. Oh I also got a suggestion to use bounce strips to keep the critters away from my flowers — gee, do ya think my tulips will survive this year? Better yet, has someone told the critters they don’t like bounce?
March 19th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
My kitten Rudy has been hanging out at the window going crazy over the birds himself!
My surgery was scheduled – next Tuesday! In any case, I’m happy that I’m (hopefully) on the road to recovery. I don’t want to be that case that isn’t better afterwards, but can’t keep on going the way I have been. Its too much. How was your trip south?
March 20th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I feel no sympathy for any starling. They swoop into the yard in droves both spring and fall, take resources that nicer birds need and can’t even sing pretty to make up for it. The juveniles are interesting with their spots, but these are not on my “favorite bird” list
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
They’re no big deal around here, I think because of the hawks. (I saw a hawk chase a blue jay into the side of my house with a THUD, then made off with its’ dinner!) I’ve always found them to be rather pretty, and the flocks are definitely something to see. I wonder if they were the birds in the Hickcock film “The Birds”?
October 10th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Starlings are very, very smart birds. If you get to know them close up, they will amaze you. (Many can mimic human speech, even.) A lot of people have swallowed the “stalings are bad for other birds,” but that is largely a myth.