European Starlings Mating, Nesting, and Feeding Habits

Description: Size - Field Marks

The average Starling measures 7 to 8 1/2 inches long and has a stocky build with a short, square-tipped tail.

In summer, the long pointed bill is yellow. In winter, their plumage is speckled with white and their bill is blackish.

Both males and females are similar in appearance. Younger birds are uniformly brown with dark bills.

Introduced Species

Introduced species are those birds and animals that have been imported and are not native to this continent. (N.A.) Which is the case with the European Starling.

In 1890 Eugene Scheifflin turned 60 of these birds, imported from England, loose in New York City's Central Park. Forty more were released a year later.

All of this was an effort by Mr. Scheifflin to transplant all the birds mentioned by Shakespeare to the New World.

Mating Behavior - Courtship

The mating habits of these birds begin in late February and can continue through June.

Males will choose a nesting site and begin trying to attract a female.

Courtship behavior consists of the male perching near his nesting site, crowing and waving his wings when a female flies close by.

If a female is near the male's nest site, he may pick up leaves in his beak and go in and out of the nest cavity.

You can tell when a pair has formed by observing them engaging in activities together.

Before pairing, these birds feed and travel independently or in groups not yet paired.

Do Starlings Mate for Life

Starlings are primarily monogamous, although males may switch mates between broods.

Studies show that some starlings re-pair each season, but as a species they do not mate for life.

Nesting Habits

The Starlings nesting habits may begin as early as fall. Selecting a cavity in a building, birdhouse, or an old Woodpecker hole.

Starlings are very aggressive at claiming their nesting sites, often displacing more native cavity nesters such as Bluebirds and Purple Martins.

The male first cleans out any previous nesting materials and begins placing dried leaves, bark, moss, or lichens in the cavity.

When the female pairs with the male, she cleans out the nest and rebuilds it primarily with grasses.

The nest is usually located 10 to 30 feet above the ground.

The female lays 4 to 5 white, pale blue, or greenish eggs, which are incubated by both the males and females during the day.

At night, the female incubates the eggs.

The incubation period will last for 12 days. The young will leave the nest 21 to 23 days after hatching.

Both males and females feed the young. The young may be fed for 2 - 3 weeks after they've fledged.

Pairs may raise up to 2 broods each season and will reuse nests.

Starlings are known for usurping the homes of Woodpeckers, Purple Martins, and other cavity nesters.

When placing birdhouses, make sure the entrance hole is 1 1/2 inches or less in diameter. This size is too small for them to enter.

Feeding Habits

The Starling's feeding habits are a bit unique in that they can open their beak while probing on the ground because of their special strong muscles.

This behavioral habit allows them to catch prey unavailable to other birds. This is called gaping and is also found in blackbirds.

They have a very diverse diet that includes insects, spiders, worms, fruit, and seeds. They also feed on grains, livestock feed, and garbage.

At bird feeders, these birds will eat seed and suet. Bird feeding may have to be stopped when flocks of these birds arrive.

Bird watchers also need to be aware that these birds can be very aggressive at feeders and keep smaller birds from approaching.

Interestingly to note, Starlings differ from most birds in their ability to sense some smells and tastes. Most songbirds have weak taste and smell senses.

Why the European Starling Has Critics

The European Starling has earned criticism largely because it is not native to North America. Within a few decades of its introduction it spread across the continent.

Its rapid expansion allowed it to establish itself in nearly every habitat where people live, from cities and farms to open countryside.

One reason for concern is the starling's aggressive behavior around nesting sites. These birds readily take over cavities that native species depend on for raising their young.

Bluebirds, woodpeckers, and other cavity-nesting birds are often forced out when starlings claim a nest hole, sometimes even removing eggs or nestlings in the process.

Because starlings breed early and can raise multiple broods, they can dominate nesting areas where suitable cavities are limited.

Starlings Impact on Farmers

Large flocks can also create problems for farmers and communities.

Starlings gather in huge numbers outside the breeding season, sometimes forming flocks of thousands or even millions of birds.

These flocks may feed on grain crops, livestock feed, and fruit, and their roosting sites can produce large amounts of droppings.

For these reasons, the European Starling is often viewed as both an ecological competitor and an agricultural nuisance.

Estimated population of starlings is 200 million.

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Gene Planker is the creator of Wild-Bird-Watching.com, where he shares over 50 years of backyard birding experience. His guides help readers understand the nesting, feeding, and behavior of backyard birds.

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