European Starling | Nebraska Invasive Species Council

Photo: wilmotsenaratne, no rights reserved (CC0)

General Information

Species Name: Sturnus vulgaris

Family: Sturnidae (Starlings)

Origin: Eurasia and Northern Africa

Why Is It Invasive?

European starlings are often regarded as a pest due to their detrimental impact on agriculture and nuisance they can cause to people. Starlings will damage fruit, grain, and corn products by pecking at the crop or pulling sprouts of grains, destroying or significantly devaluing them. They travel in large flocks and may cover structures in feces, cause significant noise, clog vents and exhausts with nests, spread disease, and can pose significant hazard around airports if they fly into jet engines. They also compete with native birds for nesting sights and resources and hobbyist bird watchers may dismay at their aggressive behavior at bird feeders, chasing off native birds.

Identification and Ecology

Physical Description

European starlings are about 8-9 inches in length, with a short tail and thin, straight bill. Throughout spring and summer, their feathers are iridescent black/purple/green with some white spots and yellow bills. In the fall and winter time they are black and brown with larger, more numerous white spots and black bills. Males are slightly larger than females.

The call of a European starling is squeaky and raspy without a consistent melody. They often imitate other birds.

Life Cycle

European starlings live for 2-3 years. They build nests in small, tight spaces and have 1-2 broods per year. Each brood contains 3-6 greenish or bluish white eggs. Incubation lasts about 12 days and fledglings leave the nest around 21-23 days of age.

Behavior

European starlings forage on the ground in open areas, on fruit trees, or catch insects in the air. They forage in large flocks. They build nests in small, tight spaces and males may have more than one mate. They can be very aggressive with other birds, chasing them away from food and nesting sites.

Diet

European starlings are omnivorous, consuming fruits, grains, and insects.

Habitat

Eurasian collared doves can be found in urban, suburban, and rural areas.

Photos

Two European starlings with speckled plumage perched on textured bark.

Credit: Lee Karney, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bugwood.org

Starling perched on a wire against a clear blue sky.

Credit: Rebekah D. Wallace, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

European starlings perched on power lines against a blue sky.

Credit: Gerald Holmes, Strawberry Center, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Bugwood.org

Five pale blue eggs in a nest made of twigs and grass.

Credit: Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

Starling perched on a tree trunk, iridescent feathers shimmering, with visible larvae below.

Credit: © alanvannorman, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

European starling perched on a branch, displaying speckled feathers under soft light.

Credit: © Gerhard Lemmer, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

Three European starlings perched on a cherry tree branch, one eating a cherry under a clear blue sky.

Credit: © Kéliane Fourche, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

European starlings perched on power lines and wooden pole against a backdrop of trees and blue sky.

Credit: © Terry Carr, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

How Do They Spread?

European starlings were intentionally introduced to the United States, with the first recorded release in the 1890s in New York City. Since their introduction, they naturally expanded across the continent. There are an estimated 150 million starlings currently in North America.

Distribution

European starlings are widespread across the United States.

Control

Cultural

Perform habitat modification by removing potential nesting or perching sites for European starlings. These include tree stands, dense vegetation, and box piles, and other areas that may have small, tight spaces where a European starling may want to nest.

For areas with a high number of European starlings, exclusion may be preferable. Consider using netting for crops and buildings. Also consider using frightening devices to deter starlings from entering the area.

Mechanical

Shooting and trapping are often not viable or successful methods to reduce starling populations in an area.