Starling, Common Starling, European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae Genus: Sturnus Species: vulgaris (vul-GAIR-iss) (Info) Profile: 5 positives 3 neutrals 6 negatives Regional... This bird has been reportedly found in the following regions: Mesa, Arizona Lake Hamilton, Arkansas Acampo, California Turlock, California Big Pine Key, Florida Jacksonville, Florida Palm Shores, Florida South Daytona, Florida Marietta, Georgia Montpelier, Idaho Arlington Heights, Illinois Gages Lake, Illinois Madison, Illinois Roanoke, Illinois Skokie, Illinois Westchester, Illinois Coatesville, Indiana Davenport, Iowa Hebron, Kentucky Baton Rouge, Louisiana Jeanerette, Louisiana Carthage, Maine Frederick, Maryland Loch Lynn Heights, Maryland Halifax, Massachusetts Dearborn Heights, Michigan Paw Paw, Michigan Saint Clair Shores, Michigan Albertville, Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Golden, Mississippi Belton, Missouri Cole Camp, Missouri Conway, Missouri Sedalia, Missouri Fort Benton, Montana Beachwood, New Jersey Holiday City-berkeley, New Jersey Marlton, New Jersey Albuquerque, New Mexico Himrod, New York La Fayette, New York Sunnyside, New York Yonkers, New York Asheville, North Carolina Winston-salem, North Carolina Dayton, Ohio Geneva, Ohio Lebanon, Ohio North Ridgeville, Ohio Sidney, Ohio Cheshire, Oregon Gold Hill, Oregon Hillsboro, Oregon Mill City, Oregon Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Elizabethton, Tennessee (2 reports) Summertown, Tennessee Austin, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Katy, Texas Mckinney, Texas New Braunfels, Texas Rice, Texas San Antonio, Texas Essex Junction, Vermont Ashburn, Virginia Keswick, Virginia Walkerton, Virginia Lake Goodwin, Washington Lakewood, Washington Shelton, Washington Touchet, Washington Chilton, Wisconsin Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Positive Resin On Dec 26, 2008, Resin from Northumberland United Kingdom (Zone 9a) wrote: Positive for Europe, where it is a native species in serious decline due to agricultural intensification. Negative salandry54 On Feb 27, 2009, salandry54 from Jeanerette, LA wrote: HORRIBLE birds!!! They are invasive and kill Purple Martins! I am trying to eradicate them from my yard! It's no wonder they are named "vulgaris"! UGH! Negative creekwalker On Mar 16, 2009, creekwalker from Benton County, MO (Zone 5a) wrote: Very much a nuisance bird here. They form huge flocks in towns and cause all kinds of problems. Neutral Malus2006 On Apr 20, 2009, Malus2006 from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: As stated, they form flocks - they are very social birds, never found alone - they even kind of nest together but will pairs off alone - they prefer birdhouses or holes a certain distance above the ground and a specific size. Birds of prey loves them as their flocks are very noticeable and they don't attack birds of prey - just flee from them. In winter here in Minnesota, they are very uncommon, some flies south, other stay in very localized area - often those with thin snow covers. They can't seem to adapt to deep snow (about 3-4 inches or more) and relocate to other areas until the snow cover thins or thaws out then they move back in almost instantly. They are very traditional, always returning to the same area to roost or feed. In summer they are very abaduant, prefering wide open parkland environment that have short grasses less than four inches tall in most spots or roadside, feeding in the narrow area between the road and true grassland, either on pebbles, sands or weeds? shunning woodland environemnt, shrubland, wetlands, even most grass areas that have grasses 4 inches tall. Negative librarygarden On May 14, 2009, librarygarden from Arlington Heights, IL wrote: The are such a nuisance in my area. They bully the smaller birds away from the feeders and seed plants, and form big flocks of squawking West Nile Virus. We have to reinforce the openings of our birdhouses with steel because the starlings will tear them apart in order to get in. Negative femluc On Apr 29, 2010, femluc from Elizabethton, TN (Zone 6b) wrote: These birds are everywhere in my area. The biggest problem that I have with them is the fact that they eat every morsel of my dog's food, and will even flock over his food bowl with him standing there. And after the main course, they have to take a bath in his water bowl, which is just nasty in and of itself. Of course, they don't know what kind of dog he is, and they don't know that he is big, but I don't think it would make any difference to them at all. THEY ARE A NUISANCE! Positive PinetopPlanter On May 12, 2010, PinetopPlanter from Auburn Four Corners, PA (Zone 5a) wrote: Yes, I know they are invasive, and rob native birds of habitat and food, but here in NYC, I've had a chance to observe them, holding their own against the pigeon population. Once in awhile one will sing on my fire-eascape -- it's a glorious song, varied, tuneful, and very conversational-sounding. They have a beautiful metallic sheen to their feathers, seen when the sun hits them just right. Positive gnash On May 14, 2010, gnash from Asheville, NC wrote: Love Starlings! And Cornell University has the best birding website: http://www.ebird.edu for info, nesting, citizen scientist work, annual competitions. Check it out - it's all free. Positive SaberLily On Jun 12, 2010, SaberLily from Winchester, VA (Zone 7a) wrote: These little guys are a surprisingly big help when it comes to insect control. They consume many pests like nobody's business. I haven't found them to be any more aggressive than the mockingbirds that are also found in our area. (Who are also a big help at insect control even if they are extremely territorial) Neutral friedaroy On Jul 27, 2011, friedaroy from New Braunfels, TX wrote: I have a few in my backyard, I have had no issues with the birds so far. I have two that bathe in my bird bath every morning, like clockwork. They are interesting watch and I have not noticed any aggressive behavior toward any of the other birds in my yard, as a matter of fact my black chinned hummingbirds seem to be the most aggressive backyard visitor that I have. Negative uviolet On May 18, 2012, uviolet from St Clair Shores, MI (Zone 6a) wrote: Normally, I don't actively hate even invasive birds, but I do in this case. This year, at least one learned how to lift up a slat of our louvered dryer vent and get into the vent itself. It apparently then discovered if it lifted up on one side, the slat would pop off. After a week of putting the slats back in several times a day (with the materials it was bringing in to build a nest with being removed as well), it decided to just start pecking (or biting, not sure which) the slats in the center so they would eventually break and not be able to be put back on. So we replaced the vent cover with one that has a type of basket covering the louvered slats to prevent it from happening again. It apparently didn't like that it was prevented from it's preferred nesting spot, because it has now alternated between attacking the neighbors PVC furnace vent and the soffit vents, attempting to gain entry. It also loves to splatter its poop against the house, which it does, often. Negative FBSPANKEY2 On Jul 9, 2012, FBSPANKEY2 from Fort Benton, MT wrote: I LOVE BIRDS............. but this is the worst bird ever. Positive absinthe27 On Sep 2, 2012, absinthe27 from Albertville, MN (Zone 4b) wrote: I love watching the huge flocks twist about in the sky. So beautiful. Neutral bonehead On Dec 19, 2012, bonehead from Cedarhome, WA (Zone 8b) wrote: Positive: They are a beautiful bird, with such varied song. I love to watch the entire flock twist and dip together. Negative: They have been misplaced here and are a threat to our native birds. They are also a nuisance in the barn, ripping apart insulation and making a big fat mess. Bottom line: I wish they would just go back to Europe.

By Resin By burn_2007 By kniphofia By kniphofia By pelletory By wallaby1 By wallaby1 There are a total of 26 photos. Click here to view them all!