Invasive starling takes center stage in winter

Thousands of starlings put on a dazzling show outside the IKEA in Renton on Saturday evening. Video by David Johnstone.

Of all the non-native plant and animal species currently in the United States, few have a stranger tale of introduction than the starling.

The bird, whose full name is the European starling, is a familiar sight in many areas of North America — including here in southwest Missouri. These dark-colored birds with iridescent tints of green and purple can be found here throughout the year, but they’re particularly common during winter. At this time of year, they can often be seen in enormous flocks, some of which number far into the thousands. Because of this abundance, many people are surprised when they learn starlings are an exotic species. The story of how these birds native to Eurasia and North Africa got started here is even harder to believe.

A European starling in winter plumage.
A European starling in winter plumage.
Jim Rathert

North America’s starling saga began in 1890 when Shakespeare enthusiast Eugene Schieffelin released 100 starlings in New York City’s Central Park. He wanted to introduce all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays into New York. Although this eccentric attempt at wildlife management sounds almost comical, many people aren’t laughing today.

A hypnotizing starling murmuration was captured on camera in Isleham, England.

That seemingly insignificant release more than 100 years ago spawned a North American starling population that numbers in excess of 140 million today. This overwhelming abundance has led to a multitude of problems for both humans and native wildlife species. Before we get to those problems, here’s more about the starling:

These stocky, medium-sized creatures (weighing between 2 and four ounces) are one of the most common birds in the world. They have some interesting characteristics if you can get past the annoying ones. One of these is verbal skills. Starlings have a rich audio repertoire and can imitate a variety of sounds, including those made by humans.

A starling’s beak isn’t only interesting because of the sounds that come out of it. Unlike many birds, a starling’s jaw muscles work “backward.” Instead of using most of their power to clamp their bills shut, the strength of these muscles is used to spring the bill open. The closed bill is inserted between blades of grass in thick turf or other ground cover and then sprung open to expose hidden morsels. Some bird experts theorize this extremely efficient foraging technique is why starlings have such a high rate of survival during winter.

Another interesting starling trait is their nest-building. When constructing homes, these cavity nesters include fresh green vegetation rich in chemicals that act as fumigants against parasites and pathogens. Green sprigs are continuously added to the nest until the eggs hatch.

However, despite these unique traits, starlings have few friends among humans. From a biological and birding standpoint, these gregarious invaders are nothing but a nemesis to native species. Because of their increasing numbers and aggressive behavior, starlings are out-competing North America’s native bird species that utilize cavities as nest sites.

Starlings can also be troublesome for humans, particularly when they gather in the huge flocks mentioned above. There are several theories why starlings congregate in such huge masses (which often include other species of blackbirds) and probably all have some truth. The primary reason given for the formation of these large flocks is the principle that there’s safety in numbers. The more eyes there are, the easier it is to spot predators. Also, some predators will be scared off by the immensity of the flock. There are also foraging benefits. A large flock is likely to find more food sources and expend less energy than a bird that searches for food alone.

Thousands of starlings fly together in a 'murmuration', forming beautiful moving dark clouds in southern Israel's sky. Gavino Garay reports. Video provided by Reuters

However, these mega-flocks provide few advantages for humans. These large masses of starlings are damaging to newly seeded crops and livestock feedlots. The fecal material they leave behind at urban roosting sites can cause health hazards. On occasion, starlings have caused trouble for incoming and departing airplanes at airports. Shakespeare may have thought the starling a fitting creature to mention in a play, but today’s biologists and birding enthusiasts agree this bird plays the role of nuisance in most settings where it is found today.

Starlings are not protected by Missouri’s wildlife code or federal migratory bird regulations, so shotguns and pellet guns are popular control devices in some areas. However, lethal eradication is sometimes not a preferred option because starlings occasionally fly with other types of blackbirds, which are federally protected. In those situations, shooting the birds may not be prudent or, depending on the civic ordinances of the community you live in if you live in an urban area, may not be legal. There are a variety of scare devices and tactics that can help alleviate starling problems. Information on solutions to starling problems can be obtained from your nearest Missouri Department of Conservation office. Information on birds and solving bird problems can also be found at mdc.mo.gov.


Share This Story