Common starling
- The common starling is an enthusiastic swimmer, capable of bathing many times a day. While bathing, it splashes vigorously, so the container must be placed on a separate tray.
- The male common starling sings to show other males that they have no place here and to attract females.
Age
European starlings typically live from 8 to 15 years, although the maximum recorded lifespan is 22 years and 11 months, with a theoretical lifespan ranging from 16 years and 1 month to 20 years and 8 months. The species reaches sexual maturity between 9 months and 1 week and 1 year and 3 months. A chick’s eyes open between 6 days and 1 week; during the "Embryo" stage, the embryo develops inside an egg and receives nutrients from the yolk. The "Chick" stage sees the young bird in a nest, being fed insects and worms by its parents. Following this, the “Rapid Growth Juvenile” stage lasts from 3 weeks and 1 day to 11 months, during which the young bird learns to fly and forage independently. An adult bird is capable of reproduction and actively sings while defending its territory, with this "Adult" stage lasting from 1 to 20 years.
Phenotype
Down is soft and covers the body during the first days of life; young birds after rapid growth have plumage that is grey-brown without metallic sheen. The adult common starling has a sharp and strong beak that is bright yellow in summer and dark in winter, and its legs are sturdy, allowing it to walk on the ground and cling to branches. Adult plumage is black with green and purple metallic iridescence, and white spots appear during winter. The wings are short and wide, enabling rapid maneuvering in flight.
Physiology
The Eurasian blackbird is a bird species characterized by a body length of from 21 to 24 cm and a weight of from 69 to 76.5 g, as well as a wingspan of 38 cm. The mass of the embryo’s body is from 6 to 8 g, its length – from 2.7 to 3.2 cm. A nestling has a mass of from 5 to 65 g and a length of from 5 to 18 cm. Young birds after rapid growth reach a body weight of from 65 to 85 g and a length of from 19 to 22 cm. An adult Eurasian blackbird weighs from 70 to 100 g, its length is from 21 to 24 cm.
Habitat
European starlings occupy terrestrial landscapes, including ground forests, and are found at altitudes up to 2 kilometers. The species inhabits temperate mixed forests with warm summers and many oak, birch, and maple trees, as well as flooded meadows where the ground is often inundated with water and there is abundant grass. They also live in taiga forests characterized by cold winters and numerous coniferous trees such as spruce and pine. The climate varies; it can be very hot in summer, exceeding 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, or feature cool summers with frequent rainfall and snow in winter. Precipitation is consistently high, resulting in a very humid environment, and summers are often warm with frequent rain.
Shelter
European starlings inhabit tree cavities, crevices in buildings, or artificial birdhouses. The species constructs or utilizes a nest as a breeding structure for laying eggs and raising young. Nests are composed of grass, twigs, and feathers.
Geography
European starlings are found within the Nearctic and Palearctic biogeographical regions, inhabiting Celtic broadleaf forests, broadleaf forests of Western Europe, low-lying forests of the Eastern Great Lakes, Baltic mixed forests, European Atlantic mixed forests, and Sarmatian mixed forests.
Feeding
The common starling is an omnivore; during summer, it consumes many insects and earthworms, while in autumn and winter, it switches to berries, fruits, and seeds. The species obtains food on the ground or catches insects in flight, feeding on insects, earthworms, berries, fruits, seeds, coniferous cones, plants, beetles, flies, membranous-winged insects, butterflies, bedbugs, straight-winged insects, dragonflies, mayflies, and net-winged insects. The active hunting strategy involves searching for and obtaining food, with a daily food requirement ranging from 30 grams to 60 grams. Eagles prey on the species.
Reproduction
European starlings reproduce when the male secures a suitable nest cavity and sings to attract a female. The female lays 4 to 6 bluish eggs. Both parents incubate the clutch and feed the young. Embryonic development lasts 1 week and 5 days, and a brood consists of 4 to 6 young. The interval between breeding seasons is from 6 months to 1 year. During spring, the male occupies a suitable cavity and sings, attracting a female, and the female lays 4 to 6 bluish eggs. The species reaches maturity from 10 months to 1 year and 1 month.