The European Starling is the most common bird in North America, with a population exceeding 200 million. However, despite their abundance, their numbers have been steadily declining by about 1% per year since 1966, resulting in a total loss of over 50%.
All starlings in North America originate from just 100 individuals released in Central Park in the 1890s as part of a Shakespeare Festival. More than a century later, they are no longer classified as invasive, though they are often considered pests due to the competition they create for native species.
European Starlings are highly skilled vocal mimics, capable of imitating up to 20 different bird species, often making their calls difficult to distinguish. They are widely distributed across North America and Mexico, with the exception of the high Arctic.
Some female starlings, particularly those that have lost a mate, lay their eggs in the nests of other females, bypassing the responsibility of raising their young.
These birds are also renowned for their stunning aerial displays, known as murmurations, where thousands—sometimes even many tens of thousands—move together in coordinated, swirling “cloud” formations.
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European Starling
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
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STATUS: Low Concern
The European Starling is the most common bird in North America, with a population exceeding 200 million. However, despite their abundance, their numbers have been steadily declining by about 1% per year since 1966, resulting in a total loss of over 50%.
All starlings in North America originate from just 100 individuals released in Central Park in the 1890s as part of a Shakespeare Festival. More than a century later, they are no longer classified as invasive, though they are often considered pests due to the competition they create for native species.
European Starlings are highly skilled vocal mimics, capable of imitating up to 20 different bird species, often making their calls difficult to distinguish. They are widely distributed across North America and Mexico, with the exception of the high Arctic.
Some female starlings, particularly those that have lost a mate, lay their eggs in the nests of other females, bypassing the responsibility of raising their young.
These birds are also renowned for their stunning aerial displays, known as murmurations, where thousands—sometimes even many tens of thousands—move together in coordinated, swirling “cloud” formations.
Information credit: allaboutbirds.org