First brought to North America by Shakespeare enthusiasts in the nineteenth century, First brought to North America by Shakespeare enthusiasts in the nineteenth century, European Starlings are now among the continent’s most numerous songbirds. Flight profile more like a waxwing’s or a meadowlark’s than blackbird’s. long), with complex rattling and whirring elements, and overall wheezy quality; call notes may be incorporated into song. Though they’re sometimes resented for their abundance and aggressiveness, they’re still dazzling birds when you get a good look. Poly­typic. Birds begin a complete molt into adultlike plumage soon after fledging, and briefly exhibit a striking mosaic of juvenal and adult feathers. Winter: gregarious, with largest concentrations around cities, feedlots. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- European Starlings are not native to the U.S. About 100 of them were released in New York City’s Central Park in 1890 by Eugene Schieffdin. Breeding: needs natural or artificial cavities. Baby House Sparrow & European Starling Identification If you have questions on species identification: Please text the image, your name or agency and brief explanation of the … Often characterized as bold, this bird is actually fairly wary and can be difficult to approach. Abundant. Bill usually gray in fall and yellow by winter, but this character varies with diet. Starlings and Mynahs (Sturnidae) Amethyst Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) Bali / Rothschild's Mynah (Leucopsar rothschildi) Blue-eared Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus) Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) Dumont's Mynah (Mino dumontii) Emerald Starling (Lamprotornis iris) European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis sp.) Apparently, only the nominate subspecies occurs here; 12 other subspecies in Old World. Flight profile distinctive: buzzy in sustained flight, wings look triangular in more leisurely flight. If used on other species, the birds will not develop properly and will either die on their own or have to be euthanized due to them being unable to fly or survive on their own. Starlings for sale. If you have questions on species identification: What To Do If You Found an Injured or Orphaned Wild Bird, Starling & House Sparrow Temporary Nest Sites, Please text the image, your name or agency and brief explanation of the situation to, If you don’t hear back from us then call our main # 908-647-2353 ext. Brought to North America in 1890, it has spread to occupy most of the continent, and is now abundant in many areas. They are stocky black birds with short tails, triangular wings, and long, pointed bills. Structure distinctive, but sometimes confused with un­related blackbirds, which often co-occur with starlings in large flocks. Vagrant: still expanding range in the Americas, and out-of-range individuals (e.g., on western Aleutians) are difficult to assess. On freshly molted birds, black plumage has white spots all over; by winter, spots start to disappear; and by spring, the birds are glossy black all over, with strong suffusions of iridescent pinks, greens, and ambers. Blackbirds more slender bodied, with longer tails and less-pointy wings. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Male: with good look, note blue-based bill. Length 8.7". In flight, wings appear translucent. Call: commonly heard calls include drawn-out, hissing sssssheeeer and whistled wheeeeoooo. Often regarded as a pest, the Starling wins our grudging admiration for its adaptability, toughness, and seeming intelligence. European Starling Widespread and abundant in much of North America, the introduced European starling is arguably and problematically the most successful bird on the continent. Raising Baby Sparrows & Starlings ©2012 PAGE ~ 1 ~ The following instructions, especially DIET, are only designed for House Sparrows & European Starlings. He said he wanted to “enrich” the bird life in the city by having every species referred to in William Shakespeare’s plays live in Central Park. Population currently exceeds 200 million. Imitates other species, especially those with whistled notes (e.g., killdeer, eastern wood pewee). Widespread and abundant in much of North America, the introduced European starling is arguably and problematically the most successful bird on the continent. All rights reserved. Sometimes have a black streak down their spine & wings, Beak is longer & narrow, cream color mouth corners. Highly varied. European starling. Female: with good look, note pink-based bill, paler eyes. Adult: one molt per year, but fresh fall adults look very different from summer birds. Please use this resource to help identify House Sparrow & European Starling babies. Migration: withdraws in winter from northern portion of range. Stocky and short tailed, often seen strutting about lawns and parking lots. Juvenile: distinctive; dark gray-brown feathering all over. Please remember all baby birds can look similar, so photos with a size marker are encouraged. European Starling. Successfully introduced in Central Park, New York, 1890–91; across continent by late 1940s. Often evicts native species from nest holes. Song: elaborate, lengthy (>1 min. Sturnus vulgaris . Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark, A European starling photographed at Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley in San Jose, California, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/e/european-starling.html. 1.