The European Starling
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A Pretty Little Songbird
The European Starling is a beautiful songbird and is a fairly common sight in North America, but it not a native species. It was brought to New York in the 1890's. The man responsible was a fan of William Shakespeare and wanted all the birds mentioned in his work introduced into the United States. Sixty to 100 birds were released in Central Park. They adapted to their new habitat and multiplied. Today they can be found from one coast to another.
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
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 collectionsof 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.
Adorable Bird Housing
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.
Feed the Birds!
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
by Lang Elliot

Common Birds and Their Songs (Book and Audio CD)
This book-audio package provides a unique introduction to fifty of the most familiar birds of North America and the songs they sing. Common Birds and Their Songs will be valuable to 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.
Canon Digital Rebel
Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens - Black
Amazon Price: $619.00 (as of 02/13/2012)![]()
I have used a simple point and shoot camera for years. They're great for taking pictures at family gatherings and picnics, but when it came to photographing wildlife, I was always disappointed with the results. I couldn't get a close-up without compromising the quality of the picture. I started researching cameras and came up with the Canon Rebel. It's a step above the POINT and SHOOT but not so complicated that it ends up setting on the shelf.
America's 100 Most Wanted Birds
America's 100 Most Wanted Birds
Amazon Price: $59.42 (as of 02/13/2012)![]()
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.
Attracting Birds to Your Backyard
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?
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AndyPo
Dec 27, 2009 @ 6:19 am | delete
- Very interesting. I knew that some birds had been deliberately introduced to the USA, but wasn't sure which ones.
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OhMe
Sep 1, 2009 @ 7:00 am | delete
- Welcome to the South Carolina Group
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JaguarJulie
Oct 28, 2008 @ 10:16 am | delete
- Ah, as a fan of all things European, I naturally am a fan of this bird. That polaroid of this bird is awesome!
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poddys
Oct 26, 2008 @ 6:02 pm | delete
- 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*****
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naturegirl7
Oct 25, 2008 @ 2:18 pm | delete
- 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.
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About the Author
Bird Watcher's Digest
Bird Watchers Digest
Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 02/13/2012)![]()
Keep current with what's happening in the birding world. Bird Watcher's Digest offers great articles and pictures, as well as information on conservation efforts and research. I receive several birding magazines each month but its Bird Watcher's that has me dropping everything to sit down and read.
6 issues/12 months
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
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