European Starling Facts

European Starling Facts
1. The European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is one of the world’s most numerous and successful birds in the world.

2. European Starlings are small, chunky with short tails and long slender beaks. Their wings are pointed, making them look like a star when they fly. They are about the size of a blackbird and can live to be up to sixteen years old. 

3. Habitat: European Starlings usually live in towns around people, they use trees, buildings and other structures for nesting.

4. Food: Starlings will eat nearly anything they can get their beaks on, although they will focus on insects and other invertebrates when available.

5. European Starlings originate from Europe.  In the early 1890’s, Shakespeare fanatics wanted America to have all the birds that Shakespeare ever mentioned. So they released 100 Starlings in New York’s Central Square. 

6. Starlings can be found in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, Lberia, South Africa, all over North America and even in Mexico over the winter.

7. Native birds population were stable before Starlings arrived. They were unmolested in their nests to some extent and were able to eat berries freely.

8. The Starlings aggressive nature drives other birds away from feeding areas. They drive birds out of their nests and take them as their own. The Sapsucker birds have shown a steady decline in population because of the Starlings. All other birds seem to be holding there own against them. Starlings are now the major bird population in all of North America.

9. Starlings have a very good reproductive ability, a very high tolerance to parasites, they are extremely adaptable to new environments and make their nests just about anywhere. 

10. There are no realistic ways to get rid of the European Starlings in North America. 

11. They are too numerous and resilient to do anything about it.

12. Population of over 200 million in North America.

13. Starlings can learn the calls of 20 different species.

14. They can Fly up to 48mph.

15. The oldest recorded Starling was 15 years 9 months old.

16. Don’t be deceived by their beauty.  The European Starling caused the most fatal bird strike accident in aviation history!

17. This bird is a pretty bird. It has lots of pretty colours on it because it wants to show off. 

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