Description: The European starling is one of two species
that were introduced into North America . Starlings are seven to eight
inches long. Their color varies with the season- they are purplish- black
with an iridescent sheen in the summer; in the winter the tips of the feathers
are marked with white and gold giving them a speckled appearance. The long
pointy bills are bright yellow in the spring and summer but turn dark in the
winter. Their stocky bodies and very short tails make them appear
tailless.
Biology: The eggs vary in color, from white to light
blue, some have dark spots. Both parents are involved in building the
nest, incubating the eggs, and caring for the young. The eggs are laid two
to eight at a time and require 12- 14 days to incubate. They average two
broods per year, producing up to 16 young per year. After hatching, the
nearly featherless young are totally dependent on the parent birds for food and
water.
Young starlings leave the nest approximately three weeks after they
hatch. Unmated males flock and move from roosts to feeding sites
together. As the first brood matures, they join this flock. Thus, as
late summer approaches, the flocks increase significantly as the final brood and
mating pairs join them.
Habits: Starlings typically select nesting sites that are
in the shadows of a brighter light. In urban areas they tend to roost in
building cavities, often 20 to 70 feet above the average street light
height. Nets are constructed of twigs, grass and other debris, then lined
with feathers and other soft materials. In urban areas, starlings are
increasingly found nesting in kitchen, bathroom, oven, and dryer vents.
At dawn, starlings travel as far as 70 miles from the roosting site to a
feeding site. When they return to the roosting area at dusk, they first
perch on telephone wires, bridges, buildings and trees until after sunset at
which time they fly around the roosting site, perhaps several times, before
setting in for the evening. Some starlings migrate as cold weather
approaches.
Starlings feed on the ground and away from their roosting
sites. During spring and early summer the nesting birds eat insects and
occasionally soft fruit. During late summer, fall and winter, their diet
preferences shifts to grains, seeds and fruits. They can consume up to one
ounce of grain per day.
