Starlings are a common sight across much of North America, Europe, and Asia. While their numbers have declined in some areas, starlings remain one of the most numerous songbirds on these continents. So in most locations, starlings would not be considered rare or unusual to see.
What is a starling?
The starling found across North America and Eurasia is known scientifically as the Common or European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). It is a medium-sized songbird about 8-9 inches long with distinctive black plumage that has an iridescent sheen showing purple and green tones. The beak of a starling is narrow and pointed.
Starlings are native to Europe, western Asia and north Africa. However, they have been introduced to many other parts of the world by humans including North America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Populations of starlings are now found across the Northern Hemisphere.
Abundance and distribution
Starlings are abundant and widespread songbirds in many parts of their range. According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, there are an estimated 200 million starlings in North America alone. Their abundance is one reason they are considered a pest species in some areas.
In Europe, starling populations are estimated at between 75-200 million breeding pairs. They are found across most of Europe but are scarce or absent from Iceland, northern Scandinavia and some Mediterranean islands.
Across Asia, starlings inhabit a broad band from Israel and Turkey in the west to Japan in the east. Populations are largest from Turkey to central Siberia. Their abundance declines towards the southern and eastern limits of their Asian range.
So while starling numbers have declined in parts of their range, overall they remain one of the most common and visible bird species through much of the Northern Hemisphere. Seeing a starling or a flock of them is a routine sight in most cities, farmlands, parks and other open habitats.
Population declines
While still abundant, data from breeding bird surveys show that starling populations have declined significantly in some areas in recent decades. These declines have been linked to changes in agricultural practices and land use.
In Europe, starling populations dropped by an estimated 45% between 1980 and 2013. The declines have been steepest in western and central Europe.
In Britain, starling numbers declined by 80% between the mid-1970s and 2008. They remain common but are now absent from some areas where they were once plentiful.
In North America, Breeding Bird Survey data indicates starlings declined by about 2% per year between 1966 and 2015. The population drop has been steepest in northeastern states like Vermont and Ontario, where populations have crashed by as much as 90%.
So while still numerous, starling declines in areas like Britain and northeastern North America mean that starling sightings are rarer in those regions compared to 50 years ago. Seeing large flocks of thousands of starlings has become less common.
Why are starling populations declining?
Researchers have identified several factors behind the starling population declines seen in parts of Europe and North America:
– Loss of pastureland – Conversion of pasture and meadows to intensive agricultural land appears to be a major driver of starling declines, particularly in Britain. Starlings favor short grass habitats to forage.
– Loss of livestock farming – Related to pasture loss, the move away from livestock farming towards arable land reduces habitat as well. Starlings benefit from grazed lands.
– Loss of nest sites – Starlings nest in cavities in trees, cliffs and buildings. Removal of old trees, renovation of old buildings, and cliff stabilization has reduced nest sites.
– Pesticides – Starlings are vulnerable to pesticides used on farms. These chemicals reduce their breeding productivity and survival.
– Climate change – Mismatch between nesting period and peak abundance of insect prey may contribute to lower reproductive success.
So habitat loss driven by agricultural intensification, as well as increased pesticide use, has contributed to starling declines. Providing habitat through sustainable farming practices could help reverse the declines.
Are starlings considered threatened?
Despite population declines in regions like Europe and northeastern North America, starlings are not considered globally threatened or endangered. The IUCN Red List categorizes the Common Starling as a species of Least Concern.
This is because starlings remain abundant and widespread through much of Eurasia and North America. The global population is estimated at up to 510 million individual birds. So while vulnerable in parts of its range, overall starling populations are healthy enough that the species faces no immediate extinction risk.
However, the substantial population crashes in Britain and North America highlight that continued habitat loss and use of pesticides could push starlings towards threatened status unless conservation measures are taken. Monitoring and safeguarding starling populations will be important going forward.
Where can you see starlings?
Here are some of the best places left to spot starlings:
– Urban areas – Cities provide habitat for starlings as they nest in cavities in buildings and feed in parks. Look for them on lawns and in trees. Listen for their loud, warbling songs and calls.
– Farmland – Starlings forage in pastures with short grass, particularly those grazed by cattle and sheep. Flocks stream between fields and woodlands.
– Forest openings and edges – Starlings frequent forests but prefer habitat mosaics rather than dense, overgrown woods. Forest clearings and edges provide feeding opportunities.
– Wetlands – Flooded fields, marshy meadows and shorelines host foraging starlings, especially at evening roost time.
– Countryside hedgerows – These classic British landscape features offer nest cavities and song perches. Watch and listen for starlings along hedgerows.
Seeing starlings becomes rarer in areas of intensive agriculture with little pastureland. But they remain a common sight across much of their range, particularly in diverse farm landscapes and urban green spaces.
Interesting starling facts
Beyond their familiar appearance and large flocks, starlings have many fascinating traits. Here are some interesting starling facts:
– Mimicry – Starlings are excellent vocal mimics. They can imitate other bird songs, animal sounds and even mechanical noises. Individual birds may have repertoires of 20-50 sounds.
– Murmurations – Large flocks of starlings putting on spectacular aerial displays are called “murmurations”. These swooping, swirling flocks evade predators through coordination.
– Iridescence – Starling feathers have a unique structure that produces iridescent tones that shift between purple, green and black. This may help with flock cohesion, social signaling and predator avoidance.
– Migration – While many starlings are resident, others migrate south for the winter. European starlings may travel between breeding grounds in Scandinavia, the Baltic and Russia to wintering grounds in southern Europe.
– Decline in the USA – European starlings were introduced to New York’s Central Park in 1890-91 as part of a project to introduce representative birds from Shakespeare’s works. About 100 birds were released.
– Urban adapters – While starlings use natural cavities, they readily nest and roost in buildings, on bridges, under roof tiles, and even inside airplane exhaust vents and airplane wheel wells.
So in addition to their more well-known traits like flocking behavior, starlings have hidden depths when it comes to behaviors like mimicry, iridescence and migration. Exploring these details offers new appreciation for a familiar species.
Conclusion
While starling numbers have dropped substantially in some regions, overall these songbirds remain common and visible through much of Europe, Asia and North America. Seeing and hearing a starling or flock is still a routine occurrence in most cities, on farms, and even in nature preserves where suitable habitat exists. So for most bird watchers and nature lovers, catching sight of a starling is not considered a rare event. However, their declines in areas like Britain highlight the need for habitat protection and threat mitigation to ensure starling numbers remain stable into the future. Appreciating their behaviors and ecology fosters interest in conserving this iconic farmland and urban bird.