| Generally regarded as one of our most undesirable birds, the European Starling is a short-tailed chunky, iridescent black bird with white flecked plumage in winter and a long pointed bill which is yellow in summer and darker in the colder months. 100 European Starlings were introduced on this continent in 1890 by a fan of William Shakespeare because the bird is mentioned in his play Henry IV. Since that time the Starling has spread throughout the United States and all but the most northern reaches of Canada.
People dislike starlings for several reasons. Being social in nature, they congregate in large numbers during the fall and winter, roosting on buildings in large cities. Cleanup is costly and distasteful, causing many schemes and devices to be invented to remove them. Bird watchers tend to hate them as they compete with Bluebirds for nesting sites or make hogs of themselves at feeders in winter.
Though very few good things are ever said or written about the Starling, I admire their resourcefulness, intelligence and enjoy their clown-like antics. While they are considered by some to be a threat to Bluebirds, the House Wren is the hands-down champion there. I have yet to see them intimidate other birds at my feeder. I would nominate the Evening Grosbeak 'hog' at winter feeders.
Few people realize, and fewer still would admit, the economic value of Starlings. Starlings stand near the top of the list of beneficial birds in their feeding habits. In their comprehensive report of the food habits of Starlings, Klambach and Gabrielson conclude that the starling, in addition to other favorable eating habits, 'is the most effective bird enemy of the clover weevil in America.' Other invertebrates such as worms and spiders as well as berries and seeds complete their diet.
Because of their numbers Starlings will always be regarded as local problems when they roost for winter. Although controls will always be attempted it will be a waste of money and effort. When controls are favorable, wild animals enjoy the ability to recover losses in very short order. And after centuries of living in a settled European environment the Starling has found conditions in this country very favorable.
Four to six pale blue eggs are laid in a nest made of twigs and grass lined with feathers and fine plate material and placed in a natural or artificial holes in trees or buildings. The male will usually initiate building the nest while the female will finish it. Eggs hatch after about 12 days and leave the nest about 3 weeks later.
Length 7 to 8 1/2 inches
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