About
Introduced to North America in just 1890, the European Starling has established itself in the U.S. and Canada with incredible success. Starlings are aggressive and gregarious, competing throughout their range with native cavity-nesting species. They are equally successful in rural and urban environments, and flocks numbering millions of birds are common. Their habit of evicting species like woodpeckers and bluebirds from nests have earned them a reputation with most naturalists that is even worse than that of their fellow introduced species such as Mute Swan, Rock Pigeon, and House Sparrow. Our disdain for an introduced species is usually based on its level of competition with native species and general nuisance. The Rock Pigeon has filled a niche that few native species are willing to occupy, and is accepted if not appreciated. The Ring-necked Pheasant and House Finch, attractive and pleasant guests, are welcomed by most with open arms. The starling, as interesting and attractive a species as one might argue it to be, is considered by most to be ornithological public enemy number one.Synonyms:
- EUST