European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
How did it get here?
Originally
from Europe, Sturnus vulgaris was introduced
in New York's Central Park in 1890, reportedly by someone
who wished to establish all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s
works in the New World. From that release of 100 starlings
has descended a United States population of 140 million
to 200 million.
How to spot
Starlings
are social and often very noisy. They roost in massive
flocks. The iridescent, black bird is about 6 inches long.
It is stocky, with a short, square tail and pointed wings.
It eats mostly insects, but will also feed on fruit, grain,
animal feed, and garbage. You can listen to the bird's
song at the Animal Diversity Web.
Habitat characteristics
• Prefers urban environments.
• Nests in natural or artificial cavities.
Life Cycle
In the wild, the maximum life span on record is 20 years. European starlings have two to three broods a year, with a clutch size or four to seven eggs. Eggs hatch in 12 to 14 days, and the young birds fledge in 18 to 21 days.
Look-alikes and how to distinguish
Blackbirds, cowbirds, and grackles have longer tails and slimmer bodies; no white spots on heads or bodies; bills are not yellow.
Why is this animal a problem?
Because
of their sheer abundance, European starlings can have
devastating effects on farms and orchards. Starlings eat
crops, especially grapes, olives, cherries, and grain
seeds. They also consume livestock and poultry feed.
Starlings outcompete other native cavity-nesting species, including Eastern bluebirds, tree swallows, great-crested flycatchers, and woodpeckers.
Starlings can carry transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE),
a disease of swine; blastomycosis; and salmonella—all
of which can be transmitted to humans and livestock. Droppings
of the birds also contain other human bacterial pathogens,
including Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes and C.
psittaci. Droppings also provide a breeding ground
for Histoplasma capsulatum, which causes histoplasmosis in people.
Management approaches
Starlings are too well established and abundant to completely eradicate them. However, they can be controlled by pesticides, exclusion structures, sound repellents, and hunting. Efforts should be focused on places where the birds are consuming crops, eating livestock feed, or displacing native birds. You can get more information about control at Columbia University’s Introduced Species Summary Project and the University of Florida Extension's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences [PDF].
Other resources
WEB
U.S.
Geological Survey
Species account, including audio recording of birdsong
Cornell
Laboratory of Ornithology
Species account, including audio recording of birdsong
U.S.
Department of Agriculture
Species profile
Animal
Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
Species account and photos
Stanford
Alumni Association
Article: "How Long Can Birds Live?"
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