Scientific Name: Sturnus vulgaris

Residency:  Year-round throughout the state.

Diet: Primarily insects and other invertebrates, the diet also includes fruits, nectars, grains, and even the eggs of other birds.

Predators: Avian Predators: accipiters, buteos, falcons, and owls. Mammalian predators: weasels, rats, dogs, and cats. These predators have a very small impact on population levels of European Starlings, since the latter are not a major food item for any of these predators. Starlings have been observed to fly directly to the ground or into vegetation to escape avian predators. They may also fly in tight flocks to mob avian predators, or to escape from them.

Nesting: Five to six pale blue eggs are laid in a cavity such as a woodpecker hole.

Nesting Records:

Notes: An exotic species introduced into New York City in the 1800?s by Europeans, starlings are habitat generalists who often out-compete native birds such as Eastern Bluebirds Tree Swallows, Great Crested Flycatchers and woodpeckers for nesting cavities.  Consequently, many of these native species have suffered population declines.

Photo: Photo at right was taken at Scottsdale Community College on February 23, 2007. For more photos, click on camera icon.

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