The European Starling
I may be common, but I'm uncommonly pretty!
Description
The European Starling is a medium size bird 7 to 8 ½ inches in length. Its plumage is a glossy green or purple tinged black. In the winter the feathers are tipped with white giving it a speckled or spotted appearance. Its beak is yellow in the summer and black in the winter. Both sexes are similar in appearance with the male slightly larger than the female. One hundred European Starlings were released in New York City in the 1890's. They now number over 140,000 million.
Range and Habitat
The European Starling is a highly adaptable bird. With the exception of large tracts of undisturbed forests, they can be found anywhere. They will forage on laws, fields, and other developed areas. The only requirement seems to be the presence of nearby nesting cavities or birdhouses. 
My New Home
Mating and Nesting
During the off season the European Starling will form large flocks, but at the start of mating season, the breeding pairs head off on their own. Their nests are bulky collections of sticks and dried grasses and are built in natural or man-made cavities. They frequently commandeer woodpecker holes and bluebird boxes-displacing our native song birds.The clutch usually consists of 4 to 6 blue-green eggs and are incubated from 11 to 13 days. The hatchlings fledge at about 21 days. The pair often produces 2 clutches every breeding season.
Bird boxes and houses
Some female European Starlings unmated until late in the breeding season, will try and lay an egg in the nest of another rather than build their own.
Diet
The European Starling is an omnivore with half of its diet composed of insects such as moths, butterflies, beetles, grubs, crickets, and grasshoppers. They will also eat seeds, grains and fruits. In grain-producing regions of the country, the European Starling is an aggravating pest. They consume large quantities of livestock feed, ravish orchards and uproot seedlings in the family garden. Avant Garden Cottage Feeder
Avant Garden 8501-3 Cottage Lantern Bird Feeder
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I love watching the birds in my backyard, and nothing attracts the birds better than a birdfeeder. The Avant Garden Cottage Lantern Feeder is an excellent choice.
One Way Mirror Feeder
Cardinal One Way Mirror Feeder, Clear
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The Cardinal One Way Mirror Feeder allows you to watch the birds up close without scaring them away. It fastens to the window with two heavy-duty suction cups. It's easy to see, fill and clean. It's a must have for the avid backyard bird watcher.
Voice
The European Starling is a noisy bird. They utter a wide variety of melodic and mechanical-sounding sounds, including a distinctive wolf-whistle. They are mimics and when kept in captivity, they can learn a wide variety of sounds.Listen to the song of the European Starling: Sound Byte: European Starling, National Park Service
Common Birds and Their Songs
Common Birds and Their Songs (Book and Audio CD)
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This book-audio package provides a unique introduction to fifty of the most familiar birds of North America and the songs they sing. Its a great book for anyone interested in birds, from beginner to expert. It's the perfect gift for any birder - or anyone with a bird feeder.
European Starlings are mimics and have been kept in captivity as pets. They are often referred to as the poor-man's Myna.
Pests?
In the fall and winter months the European Starlings form huge, gregarious flocks. The flocks can be single species flocks, but are usually a mixture of starlings, blackbirds, cowbirds, and grackles. They are noisy and are considered pests rather than birds worth watching. 
Pest? Surely not.
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
If you want to see a gyrfalcon or a fork-tailed flycatcher, this resource might be your best help in spotting them. Mostly for serious birders intent on adding species to their life lists, America's 100 Most Wanted Birds provides detailed strategies for locating 100 of the most uncommon-to-rare bird species in the United States.
Some of My Favorite Backyard Birds
The Bold and BeautifulThe American Goldfinch
The Blue Jay
The Northern Cardinal
Cheerful Singers
The European Starling
The Northern Mockingbird
The American Robin
The Shy Ones
The Eastern Bluebird
The Carolina Wren
Have you seen any interesting birds lately?
JaguarJulie wrote...
Ah, as a fan of all things European, I naturally am a fan of this bird. That polaroid of this bird is awesome!
Posted October 28, 2008
poddys wrote...
Wow I didn't know about their introduction to the USA. Just learned something. Yet another great bird lens from you. I do enjoy them. 5*****
Posted October 26, 2008
naturegirl7 wrote...
Lensrolled to Nestbox Trails for Bluebirds and others. Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens links to the appropriate plexos and vote for them.
Posted October 25, 2008
ANDRI wrote...
I had starling. I thought five, the buffalo, the white and the great. i also have great starling lens. i favorite it and give you five
Posted July 20, 2008
The_Homeopath wrote...
Starlings are nesting in my barn this year. The plucky little guys have kicked out the pidgeons!
Posted June 19, 2008
About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen, aka Lizzy Jean, has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,690 lenses, favorited 454, and has created 165 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses
101 Ways to Help Birds
101 Ways to Help Birds
Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 07/10/2009)
101 Ways to Help Birds offers 101 ways for individuals to help birds and bird populations as a whole, and it explains how these actions make a difference. Any bird lover knows that birds and animals alike need our help. Without it, we will lose more and we've lost enough as it is.
Resources used to construct this page.
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
Seattle Audubon Society
European Starling, Birds of South Dakota
by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
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