Common starling

Lore & Background

The common starling was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 under its current binomial name. Its closest relative is the spotless starling, and mitochondrial gene studies suggest the spotless starling could be considered a subspecies. The species has about 12 subspecies, which vary clinally in size and plumage color, with extensive intergradation causing taxonomic uncertainty. The common starling builds an untidy nest in natural or artificial cavities, laying four or five glossy, pale blue eggs that hatch after two weeks, with young remaining in the nest for three weeks. It is omnivorous, feeding on invertebrates, seeds, and fruit. Large flocks can benefit agriculture by controlling pests, but starlings also damage fruit and sprouting crops and create nuisances through noise and mess at urban roosts. Introduced populations have been culled with limited success, except in preventing colonization of Western Australia.

Reader's Guide

The common starling's significance lies in its dual role as both a beneficial and pest species. Its large flocks can control invertebrate pests, aiding agriculture, but it also damages fruit and crops, and its urban roosts cause noise and mess. Introduced populations, particularly in North America and Australia, have become invasive, prompting control measures that have had limited success. The species has declined in parts of northern and western Europe since the 1980s due to reduced grassland invertebrates for chicks, but its global population remains large and is classified as least concern. Its mimicry has been noted in literature, including the Mabinogion and works by Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare. The common starling's adaptability and widespread introduction make it a notable example of human-mediated species dispersal and its ecological consequences.

Did You Know?

• The common starling has about 12 subspecies breeding across its native range.
• Its gift for mimicry has been noted in the Mabinogion and works by Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare.
• The species has been introduced as an invasive species to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, and Fiji.
• The common starling's bill is black in winter and yellow in summer.