Distribution:
(See Map Below) Found in all 50 states.
Status in Nebraska: Starlings can be seen in good numbers
year round throughout Nebraska.
Origin:
Native of Eurasia and North Africa.
Introduction to U.S.:
Introduced to New York in 1890 and 1891 by an industrialist who wanted
to establish all birds mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare.
From this unusual beginning, the European Starling gradually spread throughout
the United States and had an estimated population of 140 million birds
in 1994.
Characteristics:
Stocky bird with short, square-tipped tails and pointed wings. During
breeding season, they can be distinguished quickly from blackbirds by their
long, pointed, yellow bill; blackbirds have dark bills. Both sexes
are iridescent black. The sheen is mostly green-tinted on the back, breast,
and belly; mixed green and purple on the crown; and purple on the nape
and throat.
European starlings can be found in agricultural areas, coastlands,
disturbed areas, natural forests, planted forests, range/grasslands, riparian
zones, scrub/shrublands, tundra, urban areas, and wetlands.
Impacts: T
hreaten and displace native species, dominates an ecosystem
Control Methods:
Law permits individuals to kill, capture, or collect certain non-native
birds without permits. The Migratory Bird Act protects all common wild
birds in the United States except the house sparrow, European starling,
and feral pigeon (Ingold 1989). There are ways individuals can discourage
the success of house sparrows and starlings in their own backyards. These
ways include blocking entrances to bird houses, cavities, or nest boxes
until native migratory birds arrive; make nest boxes with 1 1/8 inch diameter
openings to favor song birds; and place protected nesting boxes and bird
houses within 4 feet of the ground to discourage nesting house sparrows
(Edge 1996).
