how many types of starlings are there

Full Answer

How to identify a starling?

Starlings are chunky and blackbird-sized, but with short tails and long, slender beaks. In flight their wings are short and pointed, making them look rather like small, four-pointed stars (and giving them their name). Relative Size. Nearly twice the size of a House Sparrow; smaller than an American Robin. robin-sized.

How many types of starlings are there?

There are 123 species of starlings, however, and the vast majority are sedentary and non-migratory. Common starlings in North America are similar and tend to migrate only as far south as they need to remain sufficiently warm for the winter. Rosy Starlings are becoming more popular in the UK during summer.

Are starlings native to America?

The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), a bird reviled by some and beloved of others, is ubiquitous in North America, but is not native to the continent. The North American population of 200 million constitutes a third of the world's population[1]but descends entirely from a population of some 100 birds that arrived in 1890.

Do starlings migrate in winter?

They migrate towards the equator and can be found along the coast of the Mediterranean and the Middle East during the winter months of the Northern Hemisphere. In the summer months, starlings will migrate towards Finland, Russia, and Kazakhstan.

How many species of starling are there?

Nearly 30, see text.

Is a grackle the same as a starling?

Common Grackle Common Grackles are larger with a longer tail than European Starlings. They also have dark legs, a dark bill, and yellow eyes whereas starlings have pinkish legs, a yellow bill (breeding birds), and a dark eye.

Are European and Common starlings the same?

description. … common, or European, starling (Sturnus vulgaris), a 20-cm (8-inch) chunky iridescent black bird with a long sharp bill. It was introduced from Europe and Asia to most parts of the world.

Are blackbirds starlings?

For example, dark-colored European Starlings often mix with blackbirds, but belong to a different family (Sturnidae) than New World blackbirds (Icteridae); starlings may be black birds, but they aren't blackbirds.

What is a flock of grackles called?

Flocks of crows are called a “murder,” and flocks of grackles are called a “plague.” I can attest to the name, even if for only several minutes.

What are grackles good for?

Grackles, she agrees, have redeeming qualities. “They get a bad rap because they enjoy crop plants like sorghum, wheat and corn and they get into bird feeders and drive people nuts. But they control insect populations, and a lot of those insects are harmful to plants,” she says.

What does seeing a starling mean?

Starlings are symbolic of communication, of your relationship with your fellow members, and your standing in society. They also symbolize unity; often seen flocking together, these birds have learned that we are always stronger together than alone.

Where do starlings sleep at night?

They mainly choose to roost in places which are sheltered from harsh weather and predators, such as woodlands, but reedbeds, cliffs, buildings and industrial structures are also used.

Do starlings do any good?

They eat tons of gypsy moths and caterpillars, flies and fly larvae, and many other obnoxious insects.

What bird food do starlings not like?

Starlings won't eat small seeds or seeds with a hard shell. Starlings will avoid: Niger Seed. Peanuts in the Shell.

How long does a starling live?

2 – 3 yearsCommon starling / Lifespan

Do starlings eat other birds?

Their strong appetites do mean that starlings are generally willing to consume anything and everything they can to replenish their energy reserves. As such, they have been known to eat small eggs and may attack baby birds. They're more likely to attack other birds to 'shoo them away' rather than eat them, however.

Where do starlings live?

Starlings have a native range throughout Europe, the northern coast of Africa, and as far east as India and Mongolia. They migrate towards the equator and can be found along the coast of the Mediterranean and the Middle East during the winter months of the Northern Hemisphere.

How many eggs do starlings lay?

Females will lay as many as seven eggs in one brood. The eggs hatch after less than two weeks of incubation and young starlings leave the nest within three weeks of birth.

What do starlings eat?

Starlings love to eat wild and cultivated fruits such as berries and cherries, as well as large quantities of feed from livestock farms.

What are the diseases of European starlings?

These pest birds can transmit parasites, like mites, fleas, and bedbugs, as well as potentially fatal diseases, including histoplasmosis, salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis, and chlamydiosis.

How many birds can break branches in winter?

The combined weight of a flock of starlings – up to 20,000 birds in the winter – can break small branches and disfigure trees. Their droppings are phytotoxic and can kill mature trees, as well as contaminate livestock feed.

What is the name of the starling family?

The starling family, Sturnidae, is an entirely Old World group apart from introductions elsewhere, with the greatest numbers of species in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The genus Sturnus is polyphyletic and relationships between its members are not fully resolved. The closest relation of the common starling is the spotless starling. The non-migratory spotless starling may be descended from a population of ancestral S. vulgaris that survived in an Iberian refugium during an Ice Age retreat, and mitochondrial gene studies suggest that it could be considered a subspecies of the common starling. There is more genetic variation between common starling populations than between the nominate common starling and the spotless starling. Although common starling remains are known from the Middle Pleistocene, part of the problem in resolving relationships in the Sturnidae is the paucity of the fossil record for the family as a whole.

Where do starlings breed?

The common starling has about 12 subspecies breeding in open habitats across its native range in temperate Europe and across the Palearctic to western Mongolia, and it has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa and Fiji.

What is a starling bird?

The common starling or European starling ( Sturnus vulgaris ), also known simply as the starling in Great Britain and Ireland, is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is about 20 cm (8 in) long and has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song. Its gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare .

Why are starlings important?

The common starling was introduced to Australia to consume insect pests of farm crops. Early settlers looked forward to their arrival, believing that common starlings were also important for the pollination of flax, a major agricultural product. Nest-boxes for the newly released birds were placed on farms and near crops. The common starling was introduced to Melbourne in 1857 and Sydney two decades later. By the 1880s, established populations were present in the southeast of the country thanks to the work of acclimatisation committees. By the 1920s, common starlings were widespread throughout Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, but by then they were considered to be pests. Although common starlings were first sighted in Albany, Western Australia in 1917, they have been largely prevented from spreading to the state. The wide and arid Nullarbor Plain provides a natural barrier and control measures have been adopted that have killed 55,000 birds over three decades. The common starling has also colonised Kangaroo Island, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and Tasmania.

How fast can a starling fly?

Common starling on migration can fly at 60–80 km/h (37 –50 mph) and cover up to 1,000–1,500 km (620–930 mi). Several terrestrial starlings, including those in the genus Sturnus, have adaptations of the skull and muscles that help with feeding by probing.

What is the difference between a starling and a passerine?

The common starling is mid-sized by both starling standards and passerine standards. It is readily distinguished from other mid-sized passerines, such as thrushes, icterids or small corvids, by its relatively short tail, sharp, blade-like bill, round-bellied shape and strong, sizeable (and rufous-coloured) legs.

How long does it take for a starling to hatch?

The common starling builds an untidy nest in a natural or artificial cavity in which four or five glossy, pale blue eggs are laid. These take two weeks to hatch and the young remain in the nest for another three weeks. There are normally one or two breeding attempts each year.

How many starlings are in a flock?

A starling flock can easily destroy a farmer’s entire fruit or vegetable crop. Flocks might contain 100,000 birds or more. Annually, agricultural loss to starlings totals at least $800 million. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends several avicides – bird poisons – to get rid of starlings around farms and ranches.

Where did the European starlings come from?

European starlings arrived on these shores in 1890. They all descend from 100 birds released in New York City’s Central Park by members of the American Acclimatization Society. This organization wanted every bird mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays to live in North America, and the Bard mentions starlings in “Henry VI, Part 1.” The birds quickly multiplied, and today the descendants of those original 100 starlings number 200 million and live throughout the continent.

How to keep starlings?

Birds should always have fresh, clean water available. Keep a starling in as large a cage as possible. Large parrot cages fill the bill, but an indoor aviary is even better. Keep starlings in an area with lots of human activity. They bond to their people and enjoy being part of the household.

How long can a starling live?

Depending on the state, you might require a permit to keep your pet. Keep in mind that a pet starling can live for 20 years or more.

What to do if you find a baby starling?

If you find a baby starling on the ground, you can call a local wildlife rehabilitation organization, but they may not help you. That’s because starlings are an invasive species, and government agencies from the local to federal level don’t want them around.

Can you feed starlings commercial bird food?

If you want to feed them a commercial bird food, your best bet is feed designed for laying hens. Starlings need variety in their diets, and are primarily carnivorous. Foods designed for other types of pet birds aren’t sufficient for starlings, as most birds kept as domestic birds are omnivorous and don’t contain sufficient protein.

Do male starlings kill other birds?

Male starlings aggressively claim nesting sites from other species, and have been blamed for lowering the numbers of Eastern bluebirds, purple martins and other native birds. Male starlings will fight to the death over a nest, and will also dump eggs and kill another bird’s young.

Where do starlings live?

Starlings are common around cities and towns. Look in lawns, city parks and squares, and fields. They’ll be working their way across the grass, often moving in a slight zig-zag line and seeming to hurry as they stab their bills into the ground every step or two.

Where did the European starlings come from?

Cool Facts. All the European Starlings in North America descended from 100 birds set loose in New York's Central Park in the early 1890s. The birds were intentionally released by a group who wanted America to have all the birds that Shakespeare ever mentioned. It took several tries, but eventually the population took off.

What is a starling bird?

First brought to North America by Shakespeare enthusiasts in the nineteenth century, European Starlings are now among the continent’s most numerous songbirds. They are stocky black birds with short tails, triangular wings, and long, pointed bills. Though they’re sometimes resented for their abundance and aggressiveness, ...

How fast can a starling fly?

Starlings are strong fliers that can get up to speeds of 48 mph. In studies of starlings’ sense of taste, scientists have discovered that they can taste salt, sugars, citric acid, and tannins (bitter compounds that occur in many fruits, including acorns and grapes).

How old was the oldest wild starling in North America?

The oldest recorded wild European Starling in North America was a male and was at least 15 years, 3 months old when he died in Tennessee in 1972. He had been banded in the same state in 1958.

How old was the oldest European starling?

The oldest recorded wild European Starling in North America was a male and was at least 15 years, 3 months old when he died in Tennessee in 1972. He had been banded in the same state in 1958.

What is the speed of a starling?

It’s an unusual changing act that scientists term “wear molt.”. Starlings are strong fliers that can get up to speeds of 48 mph.

Why do starlings come into conflict with humans?

Because these birdscongregate in large numbers and aggressively search out food sources and nest sites in and around buildings, theycan come into conflict with people.

Do starlings compete with native birds?

Although starlings can be interesting to watch in highly built-up areas where few other bird species thrive, theyare a serious problem in areas where native birds exist. These introduced species compete with native, cavitynesting birds for nesting spots, which are becoming increasingly less plentiful as trees are cut down.

Can you shoot starlings?

Shooting is not an effective way to manage starling populations overall. The number of birds that can be killed byshooting is small relative to the size of the flock. However, shooting may be helpful where only a few birds arepresent, and in supplementing or reinforcing other dispersal techniques. First check with the local ordinancesregarding discharging firearms.

Do starlings have diseases?

Although health risks from birds are often exaggerated, large populations of roosting starlings may present risks ofdisease to people nearby. The most serious health risks are from disease organisms growing in accumulations ofstarling droppings, feathers, and debris under a roost. This is most likely to occur if roosts have been active foryears.

How big are starlings?

Description of the Starling. This species of starling is moderately sized, with a wingspan of 12 – 17 in. across. They have iridescent plumage, which shines green or purple in the light. Their white speckles are much more drastic in winter, and males have less speckling on their undersides than females do.

Where do starlings live?

Distribution of the Starling. In their native range, starlings reside throughout Europe, Africa, India, the Middle East, China, and more. Unfortunately, humans have introduced them extensively outside of their native range.

What is a starling bird?

Starling. Starlings are a large group of birds in the Sturnidae family. While there is a large variety of starling species, from myna birds to glossy starlings, this article will focus on the largely destructive and invasive European starling. People also call this species the “common starling” or simply “starling,” depending on who you ask.

Why are starlings dangerous?

Not only do they eat crops and impact the native bird populations, but they also provide a number of other hazards. Starling feces spreads a variety of bacteria and fungus that can make humans sick. Large flocks are also extremely dangerous when flying near airports, as they can collide with planes.

Why are starlings beneficial to other countries?

Beneficial Bird – Part of the reason starlings spread to other countries was because of their benefit elsewhere. While in North America they cause destruction, in Eurasia they remove pest insects that damage crops. Unfortunately, this is the case with many invasive species.

Why did Shakespeare mention starlings?

Because William Shakespeare mentioned starlings in his plays. Cruel Competition – The now-booming starling population poses a serious problem to native species. Woodpeckers, chickadees, swallows, and many other species must directly compete with starlings for limited nest holes.

How long does it take for a starling to fly?

The female lays between four and five eggs in the nest, and incubates them for nearly two weeks. It takes three weeks for the chicks to begin flying, and another two weeks before they are independent. TAGS. common starling.

Overview

Distribution, habitat and movements

Starlings inhabit a wide range of habitats from the Arctic Circle to the Equator. In fact, the only habitat they do not typically occupy is the driest sandy deserts. The family is naturally absent from the Americas and from large parts of Australia but is present over the majority of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The genus Aplonis has also spread widely across the islands of the Pacific reaching Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia (in addition one species in the genus Mino has reached the S…

Description

Behaviour

Systematics