Starlings are a type of songbird that are found throughout North America. They are known for their dark, metallic feathers and their noisy, musical calls. Starlings are considered an invasive species in many areas, but they also have some beneficial qualities. Determining whether starlings are “good” or “bad” birds depends on weighing their positive and negative impacts.
Quick answers
Some quick answers to questions about starlings:
- Where did starlings originally come from? Europe and Asia
- When were they introduced to North America? Late 1800s
- How did they get here? Intentionally released in New York’s Central Park
- How many starlings live in North America today? Around 200 million
- What do they eat? Insects, fruit, seeds, human food waste
- What is their lifespan? Up to 15 years in captivity, but around 2-3 years in the wild
Starling characteristics
Starlings are small-to-medium sized songbirds, averaging about 7-8 inches long withChunky, round bodies and pointed bills. Their feathers appear blackish from a distance, but up close they sparkle with an iridescent sheen of purples and greens. Even their legs have a spangled appearance.
One of the starling’s most notable features is its vocalizations. They can produce a wide variety of whistles, warbles, chirps and other noises. Mimicry is common – starlings will incorporate sounds from other birds and even mechanical noises into their calls. Their vocalizations are particularly frequent during breeding season.
Starlings are highly social birds that gather in large, noisy flocks called “murmurations.” They roost together at night and forage together during the day. The synchrony of their maneuvers in these large flocks is breathtaking to observe.
Habits and habitat
Starlings are adaptable birds found across North America in both natural and human-made habitats. They thrive in open country with scattered trees, farms, orchards, and urban/suburban areas. They nest in cavities – natural holes or human structures like birdhouses.
They mainly eat insects, especially during spring and summer when raising young. Fruit is another important part of their diet. At bird feeders, they enjoy high-energy suet. They sometimes damage fruit crops by feeding on cherries, grapes, berries, etc.
Starlings are resident birds, sticking around the same general region year-round. Some may migrate locally between breeding and wintering grounds. But they don’t make the long migrations that many other bird species do.
History of starlings in North America
Starlings are native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. They were intentionally introduced to North America in the 1890s by enthusiasts who wanted to establish all the bird species mentioned in Shakespeare’s works. About 60 pairs were released in New York’s Central Park.
From that small beginning, starlings spread rapidly across the continent. Today, only Alaska and northern Canada are still free of starlings. Current population estimates are around 200 million birds.
This explosion in population was aided by starlings’ adaptability. They thrive among humans and lack natural predators in North America. Their aggressive behavior also allows them to outcompete many native bird species.
Rapid spread across North America
Here is a timeline of the starling’s swift expansion across North America:
- 1891: First starlings released in New York City’s Central Park
- 1904: Starlings observed in Massachusetts and Connecticut
- 1916: Starlings reach as far west as Oklahoma and as far south as Virginia
- 1942: Starlings expand west to California, north to Alaska, and south to Florida
- Today: Found across nearly all of North America
Negative impacts of starlings
While starlings may have some redeeming qualities, most livestock producers, fruit farmers, airport managers and ecologists in North America consider them to be pest birds. Here are some of their problematic behaviors:
Competition with native cavity nesters
Starlings compete aggressively for nesting sites, evicting native cavity nesting birds like bluebirds, woodpeckers, and purple martins. They may also destroy eggs and kill nestlings of other species.
Crop damage
Large flocks will feed on fruits and grains on farms, especially cherries, berries, figs, olives and grapes. This can result in considerable economic losses for agricultural producers.
Livestock feed contamination
Starlings consume and contaminate livestock feed at farms, dairies and feedlots. Their droppings can also spread disease among herds.
Aircraft hazards
Starlings are sometimes involved in bird strikes with aircraft. Their large, dense flocks are a particular hazard around airports.
Public health and sanitation issues
Roosting and nesting starlings create messes with their droppings on buildings, vehicles, sidewalks, etc. Their droppings may also harbor harmful bacteria and fungi.
Benefits of starlings
Despite the problems they can cause, starlings may also have some beneficial impacts:
Insect control
Starlings consume large quantities of insects, including many agricultural pests. Their large flocks can help control infestations of flies, beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars and other bugs.
Soil enrichment
Their droppings add natural nitrogen to soils underneath roosts and nests, improving fertility.
Food chain energy
As abundant, high-energy prey, starlings help sustain predator and scavenger populations of other native wildlife species.
Human enjoyment
Some people enjoy seeing starlings visit their bird feeders and observing huge flocks performing dazzling aerial displays.
Methods for controlling starlings
Because of their status as an invasive pest species, controlling starling populations is desirable in many situations. Here are some common methods used:
Exclusion
Netting or filling holes in building facades, sealing off attics/ledges, installing one-way openings on nest boxes, and other exclusion methods can be effective at preventing starlings from accessing nesting/roosting sites.
Frightening devices
Noise makers, flashing lights, predator decoys and other scare tactics can be used to frighten starlings away from crops, buildings, or airports.
Repellents
Certain taste or tactile repellents may discourage starlings from consuming treated seeds, fruits, or livestock feeds.
Toxic perches
Specialized perches with mild toxicants can kill starlings that perch on them without harming most other birds or animals.
Trapping
Both small decoy traps and large funnel/corral traps can be used to capture numbers of starlings for euthanasia.
Shooting
Where safe and legal, shooting starlings with shotguns or air rifles can help control problem groups.
Avicides
In limited situations, specialized avicide chemicals may be applied at roosts to poison large numbers of birds.
Nest destruction
Removing starling nests and eggs from cavities discourages re-nesting and reduces productivity.
Population trends
After introduction to North America in the 1890s, starling numbers grew exponentially reaching around 200 million by the 1970s. Populations remained stable through the 1990s. In recent decades, starling numbers have declined somewhat in the Eastern US, while increasing in the West.
Region | 1966-2015 population trend |
---|---|
Eastern Breeding Bird Survey | -1.49% per year |
Central Breeding Bird Survey | -0.12% per year |
Western Breeding Bird Survey | +2.06% per year |
The reasons for these regional declines and increases are not fully clear. But factors likely include changing farmland habitats, winter food availability, and control efforts in some areas.
Conclusion
In conclusion, starlings pose a mix of problems and benefits in North America. Their large, invasive populations undoubtedly cause harm through competition, economic losses, health/safety issues and nuisance behaviors. However, they also serve valuable ecological roles as insect controllers, prey sources and soil enhancers.
Overall, starlings are considered undesirable pests by most agricultural, aviation and conservation interests. Their large numbers and harmful behaviors outweigh the ecological benefits they provide. Population control is warranted in many places. However, they are still interesting birds to observe in their beauty and behaviors.
To manage starlings successfully, we must weigh both their positive and negative impacts. Selective control that reduces harm while sustaining some of their useful roles may be the best path forward. With thoughtful management, perhaps these controversial birds could find an appropriate niche in North America’s avian landscape.