Starlings, what you didn’t know about him (29 photos + 2 videos)

30 May 2017

The genus of starlings includes about 10 species of medium-sized birds, differing little from each other in both color and lifestyle.

Starling (lat. Sturnus Vulgaris) is a migratory bird, widespread on many continents. The starling's weight rarely exceeds 75 grams, and the body length is 20-25 centimeters. The bird's body is massive, with a large head and short neck, strong legs, crowned with sharp claws.

The bird's beak is long and thin, slightly curved downwards. The plumage of an adult common starling is black, with a characteristic metallic sheen. There may be white spots above the wings and on the head, the throat and head area is purple, the abdomen is blue, and the back is greenish.

In the spring, the males are the first to arrive, occupying tree hollows, voids behind the siding of a house or window, and birdhouses, evicting sparrows from them. For bedding, birds drag everything they can get in the yard, forest or meadow. The female lays 5-6 blue eggs 30 mm long. This is not much, but the parents manage to hatch chicks twice during the summer.

Starlings pave the bottom of the nest with soft grass stems, feathers, leaves, and moss. Both parents feed the offspring; birds have to fly up to 300 times a day to get food. At three weeks of age, the chicks gradually begin to fly, and after a couple of weeks they become independent. The birds fly away for the winter at the end of August.

The common starling (shpak) is very common in Russia. Currently, the habitat of this bird is expanding. The common starling is found only in flat areas and does not rise high in the mountains. Shpak is endowed with a wide range of sounds. Common starlings can imitate the singing of other birds, and also reproduce many other sounds.

The common starling is a migratory bird. The extent of migration (at least in Europe) depends on climatic conditions; the distance from the nesting site to the wintering site of shpaks can reach two thousand kilometers. Young individuals often leave for the winter in mid-June, while most common starlings set off only by mid-October.

Starlings are omnivorous birds, that is, these birds consume both food of plant and animal origin. Settlements of common starlings consist of small colonies of birds gathered in flocks. The average life expectancy of shpaks in their natural habitat reaches twelve years.

Relatives of the common starling are rosy starlings. The presence of water nearby is a necessary condition for nesting of the pink starling.

Common starlings are aggressive birds. Not friend to friend, but to other bird species. Common starlings often compete with other birds for nesting sites. For example, in the United States of America, starlings have displaced the red-headed woodpecker from its historical habitat. Shpaki compete well for places suitable for nesting in Europe. Here their competitors are green woodpeckers and rollers.

One pair of starlings destroys about 8 thousand cockchafers, and the total mass of insects destroyed during feeding of the chicks is 6 kg per family. Finally, they are constantly seen on the backs of sheep and cows, where they collect ticks and other parasites.

It is worth noting that birds of this species have inhabited almost all parts of the world. You rarely see them, except perhaps in Central and South America. The habitats of starlings are considered to be: Yugoslavia, Spain, Russia, Pakistan, Greece, Azores, France, Iraq, Afghanistan, India and others. Humans even settled birds on the continents of Australia and Africa and in the state of New Zealand. But some of the consequences of this were negative. This was due to the natural characteristics of starlings, which reproduce quickly and have a very aggressive character. Therefore, in those regions that were not historically inhabited by starlings, these birds became unwanted guests - moreover, the starlings caused significant damage to berry fields and grain crops. We were already talking about considerable economic damage. Australia has a staff of hunters who shoot starlings. We are talking about the western part of the mainland. This is an area where the shpak have not yet fully settled. By the way, this is where hunters are kept on a permanent basis. Huge accumulations of slag near airports can threaten the safety of air travel.

The slightly bent, sharp and fairly long beak of the bird has the so-called “chameleon effect,” which is as follows: during the mating season, the beak turns yellow, this is a kind of signal that the bird is ready to mate and give birth to offspring. The rest of the time, the starling's beak is painted black.

The flight of starlings is a special spectacle. Birds gather in huge flocks of several thousand birds and at the same time fly synchronously and very beautifully high in the sky, making all turns uniformly and synchronously.

When kept at home for a long time, starlings are quite capable of learning human speech. True, unlike parrots, starlings do not use these sounds meaningfully (for communication), but simply sing.

After the chicks of the second clutch leave the nests, the starlings gather in flocks again. They can spend the night on several nearby trees. Moreover, starlings perfectly sense any weather changes. If they gather in small flocks and begin to “lead” round dances, it’s bad weather.

The group "Lube" has a song "Starlings"

[media=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o38g5ViZz7c]

In my pioneer childhood, we made birdhouses and now, while making this post, I thought, why shouldn’t I keep my child busy building a birdhouse? Both informative and useful!

There are 12 species of the starling genus

1. Brahmin Starling

The Brahmin starling (lat. Sturnus pagodarum) is a small, active bird of the starling family that lives in South Asia. Some ornithologists classify this species as a separate genus Temenuchus, since, unlike other typical species of the genus Sturnus, this bird has areas of bare skin behind the eyes, the wings are more rounded, and there is a noticeable black crest on the head. Within its range, it is a fairly common bird, often settling close to human habitation.

2. Cambodian starling

The Cambodian starling (lat. Sturnus burmannicus) is a bird of the starling family that lives in the countries of Indochina: Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Rarely found in southeast China. It is a common bird within its range, especially in Myanmar and parts of Thailand. It is found in open places, including those cultivated by humans: lawns, gardens, parks, among bushes.

3.Red-billed starling

The red-billed starling (lat. Sturnus sericeus) is a bird from the starling family that lives mainly in southeast China. A small bird with a length of 21-24 cm and a wingspan of about 118 cm. In males, the head, back of the neck, belly and undertail are whitish, sometimes with a tint of ocher or gray. The feathers of the head, neck and upper chest are somewhat elongated. The chest, back, sides and mantle are slate gray, slightly lighter at the edges. The flight wings and tail wings are black, with a greenish, blue or violet metallic sheen. The primaries have white “mirrors”. The beak is completely red or red with a black ending (hence the name). The iris is blue. The legs are chrome yellow or pale orange. Females have a brown back, wings and tail with a metallic sheen. The feathers of the head, chest and belly are also a shade of brown, but look a little lighter.

4. Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

The common starling (lat. Sturnus vulgaris) is a songbird of the starling family, widespread throughout a large area of Eurasia, and also successfully introduced into South Africa, North America, Australia and New Zealand. In the south and west of Europe it leads a sedentary lifestyle, and in its northern and eastern parts it is migratory, migrating south in the winter months. Externally (size, yellow beak and dark plumage) it slightly resembles blackbirds, but unlike them, it walks on the ground and does not jump.

5. Lesser Starling (Sturnus sturninus)

Lesser starling (lat. Sturnus sturninus). Light gray with shiny black back, wings and tail. There are white stripes on the sides of the back, white and yellow on the wing, the male has a black spot on the back of the head, the rump is reddish, the beak and eyes are black, and the legs are gray. A flying bird has light undertail and spots on its wings. It nests in the south of Transbaikalia, in the Amur region and Primorye in hollows along deciduous copses and forest edges. Quite rare. Flies to Sakhalin. The song consists of whistles, trills, imitation of other birds, the cry is a sharp crack.

6. Piebald starling (Sturnus contra)

The piebald starling (lat. Sturnus contra) is a small songbird from the starling family, common in South and Southeast Asia. Habitats combine open, usually damp, spaces with sparse woody vegetation. Often settles near human habitation and pastures for livestock. It feeds mainly on insects and grain seeds. A small bird 21-24 cm long. In general, it slightly resembles the black-necked starling (Sturnus nigricollis), but is noticeably smaller. The male and female look alike. The plumage of the head (except for the cheeks), throat, upper chest and back is black. The cheeks and underparts are creamy white, with a slight shade of gray on the chest. The wings and tail are brownish-black, except for the white tips of the middle coverts, which form a thin white stripe. The bill is straight, orange-red at the base and pale yellow at the tip. There are orange or yellow circles of unfeathered skin around the eyes. The iris is orange-brown or straw-colored. The feathers on the forehead and crown are somewhat elongated, but not raised, as in some other species of starlings. The legs are yellowish-brown. Young birds look somewhat browner. The voice is pleasant and can imitate other birds. The main sound is a long trill.

7. Pink starling (Sturnus roseus)

The pink starling (lat. Sturnus roseus) is a bird of the starling family, a close relative of the common starling. Breeds in Central Asia and south-eastern Europe. In the Russian Federation, it is distributed in Crimea, the Caucasus and southern Siberia. A small bird with a length of 19-22 cm, a wingspan of 12.3-13.9 cm and a weight of 59-90 grams, with its smoothed outlines more reminiscent of a hooded crow than an ordinary starling. The plumage of the head, neck and upper chest is black with a purple metallic tint. The flight feathers of the first and second order wings, as well as the tail, are black-brown, with a greenish-violet tint. The lower part of the breast, belly, back and sides are pastel pink. After the autumn molt, the tips of the feathers of adult birds wear out and in the male they look grayer on a black background and darker on a pink background. On the back of the head there is a tuft of elongated feathers, more pronounced in males. The beak is noticeably shorter and thicker than the common starling (length 22-26 mm), dark brown or almost black in summer and autumn, and dark pink in winter and spring. Legs are pale yellow. The plumage of females looks more matte - where the male's feathers are pastel pink, the female's are brownish-white, and the coverts have wide whitish edges. Young birds are noticeably different from adults - their plumage is grayish-brown in the upper part and pale sandy in the lower part. The feathers of the wings and tail are brown with light tips, more pronounced on the secondary flight feathers and coverts.

8. Grey-headed Starling (Sturnus malabaricus)

The grey-headed starling (lat. Sturnus malabaricus) is a small songbird from the starling family. It lives in the flat and hilly regions of India and the countries of Indochina, where it occupies open spaces with sparse trees and woodlands. It gets along well in urbanized areas, but is equally common in areas not visited by humans. Unlike other species of starlings, they spend most of their lives in trees rather than on the ground. Usually lives in small flocks. A small, mobile starling, 17–22 cm long and weighing 32–44 g. The plumage of the forehead and throat is whitish-gray. The crown, nape and cheeks are silver-gray, the feathers in these places are somewhat longer and ruffled. The beak is bluish at the base, greenish in the middle and yellow at the tip. The iris is grayish-white. The upperparts and coverts are brownish-gray. The primaries are brown with a slight greenish tint, darker brownish-black on the outer edge. The underparts are reddish-brown. The tail is gray with chocolate brown tips. Legs are brownish-yellow or olive-brown. Males and females do not differ from each other in appearance. Young birds appear duller with a predominance of grayish-brown tones. Vocalization is a melodic trill or two-syllable chirping.

9. Gray starling (Sturnus cineraceus)

The gray starling (lat. Sturnus cineraceus) is a songbird of the starling family that lives in East Asia, including the territory of the Russian Federation in Transbaikalia and the Far East. A small bird 20-23 cm long. The plumage of the upper body is smoky-gray or brown. The breast, belly and rump are noticeably lighter, light gray or off-white in color. The feathers of the head can be either predominantly white with numerous black streaks, or black-brown with white streaks, but in any case, tufts of white feathers are clearly visible on the cheeks. In females, the head feathers, with the exception of the cheeks, are always dark with white tips. Males have a cap of black feathers on the crown and back of the head, slightly iridescent with a greenish or bluish tint. The iris of the eyes is brown. The beak is yellow-orange with a dark ending; during the breeding season, the base and mandible are also somewhat darker. The covert feathers of the first and second orders of the wings, as well as the tail, are brown, with a slightly noticeable tint of green or bronze. Legs yellow-orange. Compared to males, females look lighter and brown. Young birds are similar to adults, but have brown streaks on their white cheeks, and their iridescence is not pronounced. The voice is a monotonous sharp crackle, something like chir-chir-chay-chit-chit

10. Ceylon starling (Sturnus albofrontatus)

11. Black-winged Starling (Sturnus melanopterus)

The black-winged starling (lat. Sturnus melanopterus) is a small songbird of the starling family, endemic to the islands of Java and Bali in Indonesia. An inhabitant of the savannah, it is sometimes found in human-cultivated landscapes - lawns, pastures, orchards and fallow fields. In the International Red Book it is designated as an endangered taxon (category EN). The main risk factor is the capture and trade of this bird as a pet, as a result of which numbers in the wild have declined sharply since the 1960s and remain at very low levels.

12. Black-necked Starling (Sturnus nigricollis)

The black-necked starling (lat. Sturnus nigricollis) is a small songbird from the starling family, common in southeast China and the countries of Indochina. A common species, inhabitant of flat open spaces - steppes, grassy lawns, rice fields, and less often low-growing forests. Easily lives next to human habitation. Large starling. Length 26-30 cm, wingspan 14.6-16.2 cm. Head, throat, chest and belly are off-white. On the top of the head the feathers are somewhat disheveled, and a ring of yellow, unfeathered skin is clearly visible around the eyes. On the neck there is a wide collar of black feathers with a slight metallic tint. The iris is light gray, the beak is dark. The back, wings and tail are predominantly brownish-black, with the exception of the white bases of the primaries and a white stripe along the edge of the tail. Legs are yellow. Females and males do not differ from each other in appearance. In young birds, the black collar is not pronounced, and the head, neck and belly are more motley - brownish-gray with white streaks.

13. Black starling (Sturnus unicolor)

The black or one-color starling (lat. Sturnus unicolor) is a small songbird of the starling family that lives in Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, some islands of the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa. It is similar in appearance to the common starling, and some ornithologists classify them as a single species. However, most scientists identify the black starling as a separate species. A small bird 19-22 cm long, a wingspan of 12.8-13.2 cm and a weight of 80-115 g. In many ways it has similar features to the common starling. The body is massive, with a short neck. The beak is long, sharp and slightly curved downwards; during the breeding season it is yellow, the rest of the time it is brown. Males have a dark blue spot at the base of the beak, while females have pinkish specks. The tail is short, 5.4-8 cm long, almost straight at the end. The plumage is completely black, more monotonous compared to the common starling, with a metallic sheen that has a violet (on the head, front of the neck and chest) or olive-greenish (on the back, sides and belly) tint, especially noticeable in males . The feathers in the front of the neck are noticeably longer, approximately 2 times longer than those of the common starling.