The Starling bird is also called European Starling.

 

Length Starling bird: 8 to 9 inches. Weight about equals that of robin, but the starling, with its short, drooping tail, is chunkier in appearance.

Male Starling bird: Iridescent black with glints of purple, green, and blue. On back the black feathers, with iridescence of green and bronze, are tipped with brown, as are some of the tail and wing feathers. In autumn and early winter feathers of sides of head, breast, flanks and underparts are tipped with white, giving a gray, mottled appearance. During the winter most of the white tips on breast and underparts wear off. Until the first moult in late summer the young birds are a dark olive-brown in color, with white or whitish throat. These differences in plumage at different seasons and different ages make starlings hard to identify. Red-winged blackbirds and grackles are often mistaken for them. From early spring till mid-June, starling’s rather long, sharp bill is yellow. Later in summer it darkens. No other black bird of ours has this yellow bill at any season.

Female Starling bird: Similar in appearance as male Starling bird.

Range Starling bird: Massachusetts to Maryland. Not common beyond 100 miles inland. (Native of northern Europe and Asia.)

Migrations Starling bird: Permanent resident, but flocks show some tendency to drift southward in winter.

More Starling bird information

 

This comer to our shores is by no means so black as he has been painted. Like many other European immigrants he landed at or near Castle Garden, New York City, and his descendants have not cared to wander very far from this vicinity, preferring regions with a pretty numerous human population. The starlings had increased so fast in this limited region since their first permanent settlement in Central Park about 1890 that farmers and suburban dwellers have feared that they might become as undesirable citizens as some other Europeans – the brown rat, the house mouse, and the English sparrow.

 

The Starling bird does not eat so many cherries as our old friend the robin, though his depredations are more conspicuous, for whereas the robins in ones and twos will pilfer steadily from many trees for many days without attracting notice, a crowd of starlings is occasionally observed to descend en masse upon a single tree and strip it in a few hours. Naturally such high-handed procedure is observed by many and deeply resented by the owner of the tree, who suffers the steady but less spectacular raids of the robins without serious disquiet,

 

“Economically considered, the starling is the superior of either the flicker, the robin, or the English sparrow, three of the species with which it comes in contact in its breeding operations. The eggs and young of bluebirds and wrens may be protected by the use of nest boxes with circular openings 1.5 inches or less in diameter. This leaves the purple martin the only species readily subject to attack by the starling, whose economic worth may be considered greater than that of the latter, but in no case was the disturbance of a well-established colony of martins noted.”

 

So much for the starling in his aspect as an undesirable citizen. Government investigators, by a long-continued study, have discovered that his good deeds far outnumber his misdemeanors. Primarily he feeds on noxious insects and useless wild fruits. Small truck gardens and individual cherry trees may be occasionally raided by large flocks with disastrous results in a small way.

 

But on the whole he is a useful frequenter of our door-yards who ‘pays his way by destroying hosts of cut-worms and equally noxious’ insects. “A thorough consideration of the evidence at hand indicates that, based on food habits, the adult starling is the economic superior of the robin, catbird, flicker, red-winged blackbird, or grackle.” Need more be said for him?

 

Things to know before buying a Parrot – sargeants pet care

How delightful it is to be in the presence of such magnificent creatures as parrots! Their stunning color combinations and attention grabbing mimicry create quite an impression on both young and old alike.

Have you been thinking about buying a parrot of your own? Parrots are quite unlike any other pet and they have distinct attributes that make them both loveable and frustrating. Before you choose to own a parrot it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of their qualities to ensure that they will fit with your lifestyle.

Life span of a Parrot
Are you planning to commit to a pet for your entire lifetime? While a dog may average ten to fifteen years and a cat slightly longer, some species of parrots live up to 70 years! That means that not only will the bird live as long as you, quite likely it will survive you and its living arrangements will need to be provided for in advance.

Many parrots find themselves in new homes every few years. Despite your loving commitment your bird will likely need a new home when you are no longer able to care for it. You don’t want your aged bird to suffer the stress of constantly changing homes so determine what arrangements can be made to satisfy your parrot’s needs.

Parrots are messy
Parrots are messy, in fact birds are messy – no matter what species. Their natural instincts to spread seed throughout the forest has not disappeared and you will need to deal with the seeds thrown out of the cage on a daily basis. Leaving seeds strewn about can attract rodents and become a source of bacteria.

Parrots will also produce a fair amount of waste every day. Not cleaning their cages and dishes routinely can lead to infections and is also not healthy for humans.

Parrots that are allowed to roam freely can also cause extensive damage to furniture and other items. Large species like the Macaw have a strong bite and can chew furniture, rip wallpaper or knock items over.

Parrots make noise
While you may find their calls and chattering adorable, your neighbors may not. Different species have different vocalizations. If you live in an attached or semi-attached housing you may have to rule out certain species like Cockatoos which are extremely loud.

With owning a parrot comes resposibility
Having a parrot is a privilege and with that comes responsibility. Taking care of your bird does not have to be costly if you clean and feed your bird properly but you will have to invest in proper housing so your bird is comfortable.

If you have other pets, such as dogs or cats, you must protect your parrot from being harmed. Never leave other pets alone with your parrot.

Many parrots will also develop strong attachments for a certain individual in the family. While the growing loyalty may be appreciated by the favored person it can cause problems when birds become overly protective of their loved one. On the other hand, a parrot is a social and intelligent animal which will become easily bored. A busy home or single owner who has time to give plenty of attention to the bird would be best.

Along with people you may find your parrot craves the company of another bird. This is particularly true when the bird matures (around five to eight years for large species). If you decide to provide a mate for it you must also take responsibility for the increased care and possible babies that may arrive.

Parrots bring great joy to the lives of individuals who appreciate them despite the work involved. You owe it to your pet to learn as much as possible about their care so you can commit to them and provide a loving home for as long as possible.