All pests

European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)European starling

Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758

European starling

The 1890s introduction that became 200 million birds, master of the murmuration.

Order
Passeriformes
Family
Sturnidae
Group
Birds
Ontario status
Established, introduced 1890s

Why it matters

Agricultural damage to fruit and grain; massive roosts foul structures; displaces native cavity nesters.

Origin

Native to Eurasia; released in New York's Central Park in 1890-91, now roughly 200 million birds across North America.

Behavior

Diurnal; spectacular flocking murmurations; aggressive cavity competitor; a gifted mimic of other birds and sounds.

Living conditions

Nests in cavities: buildings, nest boxes, tree holes. Roosts in enormous flocks on structures, in trees, and under bridges.

Signs of presence

  • Massive noisy roosts at dusk on buildings and in trees
  • Whitewash droppings under roost structures
  • Evicted native birds from nest boxes
  • Flocks stripping fruit trees and grain

Weaknesses

  • Cavity-nester: exclusion from buildings removes breeding sites
  • Roosts are the problem, disperse the roost and the damage moves with it
  • Agricultural damage is seasonal, netting timed to fruit ripening works

Myths and facts

  • Myth Starlings are native North American birds.

    Reality Introduced in 1890-91, one of the continent's most successful biological invasions, and unprotected by migratory bird law.

Research notes

Morphology

Body 20-23 cm, weight 60-100 g. Iridescent black with pale speckles in winter plumage; yellow bill and glossy plumage in breeding season; short tail, pointed wings.

Diagnostics

Stout blackbird with short tail; speckled winter plumage; harsh chattering and mimicry.

Easily confused with

  • Common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) Grackle is larger with a long keel-shaped tail; starling is compact with a short square tail.

Life cycle

Adult
Lifespan 2-3 years wild; 15+ in captivity
Egg
Clutch 4-6; incubation 12-14 days
Egg to adult
Hatch to fledging ~21 days
Generations per year
1-2 broods/year
Nymph or larva
Nestlings fledge at ~21 days

Development

Oviparous; altricial.

Reproduction

4-6 eggs per clutch × 1-2 broods/year.

Distribution

Global
Worldwide in temperate regions
Native range
Eurasia
Ontario
Established, abundant province-wide since the 1890s introduction

Ecology

Invasive cavity-nester; omnivorous flock forager; murmuration flocking as predator defense; among the most abundant birds in North America.

Resistance

Unknown.

IPM implications

Exclusion of roost and nest structures; roost dispersal timed before establishment; agricultural netting. Flock behavior means management is site-level, not individual birds. Unprotected status widens legal options, verify provincial regulations.

Chemical ecology

Uropygial gland secretions; song and visual display dominate communication.

Genetics and DNA

Reference genome published: S. vulgaris vAU/vNA reference genomes (GCF_001447265.1, Stuart et al. 2021); VGP bStuVul1.

Taxonomy

Order Passeriformes › family Sturnidae › Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758.

Open questions

Efficacy of long-term roost dispersal without displacement to neighboring structures.

References

  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology, European Starling (All About Birds)
  • Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, European Starlings