European Starling

HABITAT:

The species has spread through most of the United States.  It breeds from southeastern Arkansas to southern Canada.  Although formerly not found in the extreme southwestern U.S., it is now moving into the Sonoran Desert.  Highly adaptable, Starlings will live in forests, farms, cities, orchards, gardens, and parks but will avoid large forests.  They have adapted to live around people in the winter.

BEHAVIOR:

Although a migratory bird in Europe, Starlings are year-round residents in the U.S.  They stay in flocks in the wintertime.  They are aggressive and will take over areas from native birds.  Starlings will take over holes normally used by Screech Owls, hawks, wrens, nuthatches, Tree Swallows, bluebirds, and woodpeckers.  They will watch as a flicker chips out a hole in a tree and then take it over after completion.

As soon as the young fledge, they will join flocks of other Starlings.  They are often joined by Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles and cowbirds.   They will live in communal groups in winter.

NESTING:

3-6 eggs are laid in a cavity between April and July.  They will hatch in 12 days.  The nestlings will fledge in 2-3 weeks.  Starlings have 1-2 broods each year.  They build nests in tree cavities but also steeples, openings in a house, under eaves, drain pipes, barns or a nesting box.  The nests are lined with twigs, leaves and paper.

FOOD:

Ripening crops, fruit, seeds, insects, and grains.  The preferred forage is in lawns, meadows, and grazed fields.  They will feed up to ¾ mile from the roost.

PREDATORS:

Adults have few predators although birds of prey occasionally catch them in flight.  Young are subject to owls, raccoons, rats and cats.