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Starlings
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Length: superb - 7 inches; glossy - 20 in.
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Typical of starlings, the superb starling is a stout,
medium sized bird (the glossy is slightly smaller, less
robust) with a strong straight beak. Starlings have
strong walking legs and feet. They are strong fliers.
The glossy has quite a long tail, longer than its body
length.
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Coloration: Most starling species are metallic black,
with iridescence showing green, blue and purple. Areas
of plumage not overlaid with iridescence are velvety
black. The superb starling has a breast bordered by
a thin white band, and the low breast and belly are
chestnut. The eye is pale yellow. The glossy starling
is quite iridescent, and all black, with bright yellow
eyes
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Starlings have a beak-probing action that characterizes all starling
species world wide. They insert their beaks into cracks, crevices,
the ground, wherever, and pry. The shape of the open beak then allows
the bird to peer down between the upper and lower mandibles into the
created space in search for food. Caged starlings continue to do this
behavior [My common starling prizes holes through the newspaper on
the cage floor after she has wetted it with her bath. I often release
mealworms and such under the wire of her cage so that she can find
them by prying the newspaper holes...Burleigh]. Caged starlings often
open the beak in the air or against the perch. One starling would
insert its beak between the perch and the cage wire on which it sat,
prying up on the perch with the lower beak (head upside down), succeeding
in lifting the perch and itself on the perch. It is definitely an
innate behavior. Because of their ability to adapt to a variety of
conditions, many species are on the increase, especially around human
habitation. Because of their wide choice in foods they easily adapt
to changes in their climates, and to introduction in strange places.
Various species have become pests outside of their native land. The
common, or European starling is definitely a pest. Their presence
pushes out native cavity nesters such as bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Starlings begin their breeding cycle very early and have claim to
available cavities before the other species, which usually migrate,
even arrive in spring. Starlings usually do not dispossess cavities
already occupied, so, if a diligent human can keep the starling nest
material out of the cavity, a migratory species can claim it later.
No reference was found as to whether superb or glossy starlings have
been introduced to other places. |
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| Bird rescue & bird adoption;
parrot refuge/rescue & placement for unwanted birds. |
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| Check out our list of local
birds broken down by your state and different types of
species. |
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| Migrating birds stay on track
because of chemical reactions in their bodies that are
influenced by the Earth's magnetic field... |
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Part
I
November
19, 2004