January 22, 1999

     European Starlings

Some starlings have started showing yellow in their bills.  The bills of European starlings change from black to yellow as the spring nesting season approaches.

The starling was introduced from Europe in Manhattan's Central Park in 1890, when 60 birds were released.  It is believed the person responsible for the introduction of the European starling wanted all birds mentioned by Shakespeare to be found in North America.

Starlings quickly took over New York City, then rapidly spread across the country, making their first Minnesota appearance in 1929 in Filmore County.  Now they are found as a breeding species in the state, but they are most numerous in farming areas.

Starlings are aggressive birds that deprive many native birds of their nesting and roosting sites.  Their feeding and roosting habits in cities and airports cause some problems, but they are beneficial, too, as they are among the most efficient predators of ground insects.

At this time of year, starlings will gather for roosting about one to two hours before sunset.  Then small groups join other small groups that are circling and -- as one large mass -- fly over their roost, suddenly diving into its center.