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Backyard
Birds
by Marvin
Schwilling
EUROPEAN
STARLING
Before
the late 1880s, starlings were unknown in the United States.
Then a few pairs were released in New York and now they
are everywhere and surely must be the number one bird nuisance.
They
appear to be a black, chunky bird with a short tail. On
closer inspection, they are purple-greenish with a speckled
plumage.
Their
call is a jittery squeak, but they imitate or mock many
other bird calls.
They
have few friends in winter when they gather into huge flocks
to roost in buildings and dense tree groves where they are
noisy and dirty. They too nest earlier than most of our
cavity nesting birds and occupy every hole, crack or cranny
leaving few nest sites for our native birds.
Next:
House Sparrow
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