Starling (Sturnus vulgaris )

Introduction
A species of small passerine bird of the sturnidae family, this large family includes 33 genera, representing 123 different species. Bird present on all continents except Antarctica. Renowned for its incredible vocal abilities, the starling is able to imitate other birds, but also the various surrounding noises.
A species of small passerine bird of the sturnidae family, this large family includes 33 genera, representing 123 different species. Bird present on all continents except Antarctica. Renowned for its incredible vocal abilities, the starling is able to imitate other birds, but also the various surrounding noises.
Appearance
The plumage of the male starling is generally shiny black, we observe different reflections that can be green, pink, blue, purple. The bird also has many small spots at the end of the feathers, on the neck, belly and torso, they can be brown or white. The eye is brown in color, its pointed brown beak, changing color during the breeding season, sporting a magnificent yellow color. We also observe a change in the color of the legs, usually brown, they become a reddish pink, probably an asset of seduction. The female, much duller, nevertheless has more spots, she is recognizable thanks to the white circle surrounding her eyes.
Measurement
Height : 17 à 22 cm
Wingspan : 37 cm
Weight : entre 75 et 95 gr
Longevity : 20 ans
Nesting et reproduction
Nesting period: April to July
Number of broods: 2
Number of eggs: 4-8 eggs of 30 mm deep blue color
Brood length: 12-13 days
1st flight: 20-22 days
Alimentation
Being an omnivorous species, the starling feeds mainly on insects and fruit, which can cause a lot of damage in orchards. The adult bird is particularly fond of small invertebrates that it finds in the ground, such as snails, earthworms or even spiders. It can also feed on seeds and cereals depending on the season and the habitat. Young specimens feed mainly on tender parts of invertebrates before they can eat like adults. Starlings feed by forming huge aggregations at feeding sites.
Behavior
The main behavioral trait of the European Starling results in a gregarious temperament, living in a community of hundreds of congeners. During nesting, like many species, it adopts a weak territorial behavior towards its congeners. During nesting, adults outside the nest join hundreds of congeners to form giant dormitories. Considered very harmful given the number of birds feeding at the same time, owners of vineyards or orchards try hard to get rid of them.
How do you keep starlings away from feeders?
If you have decided to feed and observe the garden birds, it is obvious that the starling may come to get supplies and scare away the other small birds. It is difficult to fight against this invader, the only advice to keep starlings away is to observe and scare as soon as the first individuals appear.
Reproduction
Where do the starlings go?
The breeding season generally extends according to the countries from March to July, they generally migrate from the North-East of Europe towards the hot countries like Spain and Italy. The male usually arrives first on the breeding site, being a cave species, he builds the nest in a natural cavity, failing to find the ideal location, the starling will be satisfied with a nest box of human origin, like a floor lamp or the top of a wall.
Starlings have the particularity of being monogamous as well as polygamous, knowing that there can be two broods in the same season, it is frequent that a brood does not necessarily have identical genetic origins. Once its bride has been chosen, this one could lay 4 and 8 pale blue and spotted eggs. Hatching normally occurs between 10 to 16 days after laying.
Both parents provide mutual care for the young by feeding them from hatching to fledging, this final phase occurring on average after 25 days. However, the young remain nevertheless fragile and totally dependent on the adults for a good additional week, the parents will continue to ensure during these few days the feeding of their juveniles.
The plumage of the male starling is generally shiny black, we observe different reflections that can be green, pink, blue, purple. The bird also has many small spots at the end of the feathers, on the neck, belly and torso, they can be brown or white. The eye is brown in color, its pointed brown beak, changing color during the breeding season, sporting a magnificent yellow color. We also observe a change in the color of the legs, usually brown, they become a reddish pink, probably an asset of seduction. The female, much duller, nevertheless has more spots, she is recognizable thanks to the white circle surrounding her eyes.
Measurement
Height : 17 à 22 cm
Wingspan : 37 cm
Weight : entre 75 et 95 gr
Longevity : 20 ans
Nesting et reproduction
Nesting period: April to July
Number of broods: 2
Number of eggs: 4-8 eggs of 30 mm deep blue color
Brood length: 12-13 days
1st flight: 20-22 days
Alimentation
Being an omnivorous species, the starling feeds mainly on insects and fruit, which can cause a lot of damage in orchards. The adult bird is particularly fond of small invertebrates that it finds in the ground, such as snails, earthworms or even spiders. It can also feed on seeds and cereals depending on the season and the habitat. Young specimens feed mainly on tender parts of invertebrates before they can eat like adults. Starlings feed by forming huge aggregations at feeding sites.
Behavior
The main behavioral trait of the European Starling results in a gregarious temperament, living in a community of hundreds of congeners. During nesting, like many species, it adopts a weak territorial behavior towards its congeners. During nesting, adults outside the nest join hundreds of congeners to form giant dormitories. Considered very harmful given the number of birds feeding at the same time, owners of vineyards or orchards try hard to get rid of them.
How do you keep starlings away from feeders?
If you have decided to feed and observe the garden birds, it is obvious that the starling may come to get supplies and scare away the other small birds. It is difficult to fight against this invader, the only advice to keep starlings away is to observe and scare as soon as the first individuals appear.
Reproduction
Where do the starlings go?
The breeding season generally extends according to the countries from March to July, they generally migrate from the North-East of Europe towards the hot countries like Spain and Italy. The male usually arrives first on the breeding site, being a cave species, he builds the nest in a natural cavity, failing to find the ideal location, the starling will be satisfied with a nest box of human origin, like a floor lamp or the top of a wall.
Starlings have the particularity of being monogamous as well as polygamous, knowing that there can be two broods in the same season, it is frequent that a brood does not necessarily have identical genetic origins. Once its bride has been chosen, this one could lay 4 and 8 pale blue and spotted eggs. Hatching normally occurs between 10 to 16 days after laying.
Both parents provide mutual care for the young by feeding them from hatching to fledging, this final phase occurring on average after 25 days. However, the young remain nevertheless fragile and totally dependent on the adults for a good additional week, the parents will continue to ensure during these few days the feeding of their juveniles.