Starlings are a type of songbird found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. They are medium-sized birds with dark, iridescent plumage and pointed bills. Starlings are extremely social birds and often gather in large flocks called “murmurations.” While starlings may seem like ordinary birds to some, they actually have many unique and interesting traits that set them apart from other bird species. In this article, we will explore three fascinating facts about starlings.
Fact 1: Starlings are talented mimics
One of the starling’s most distinguishing features is its uncanny ability to mimic sounds. Starlings have one of the most complex vocal apparatuses of all bird species. Their syrinx (vocal organ) contains a set of strong muscles that allows them to replicate a wide range of noises. Starlings incorporate into their own songs sounds from sources like car alarms, telephone rings, squeaking doors, barking dogs, and even human speech. Their mimicking skills are so advanced that they can match the rhythm, pitch, and tone of the original sound almost perfectly.
Starlings pick up new sounds throughout their life and pass these mimicries from generation to generation. Their ability to mimic is thought to play an important role in breeding. Male starlings sing complex and creative songs during courtship to show off their vocal skills to females. The better the mimicry, the more attractive the male is likely to be as a mate. Mimicry may also help starlings identify each other when flocking together. As starlings mimic sounds from their environment, regional dialects or “accents” can form between populations. This helps the birds determine who their neighbors are. The starling’s talent for mimicry is a big part of what makes it such a unique bird species.
Examples of starling mimics
- Car alarms
- Telephone rings
- Barking dogs
- Human speech
- Squeaking doors
Fact 2: Starlings form giant, choreographed flocks
One of the most spectacular sights in the natural world is a flock of hundreds or even thousands of starlings moving together in synchrony. This phenomenon is known as a “murmuration.” Just before sunset, starlings start gathering in large numbers prior to roosting for the night. The swarming flocks twist, turn, contract, and expand like a giant sea of birds against the evening sky.
Each starling coordinates its movement with the seven closest birds around it, leading to the fluid, hypnotic motions of the flock. Murmurations help starlings avoid predators through the illusion of a single massive superorganism. It’s harder for a predator to target one bird in the midst of a hypnotic swirling flock numbering in the thousands.
Scientists are still trying to understand exactly how starlings coordinate murmurations so seamlessly. Some believe it is a defense response against predators like peregrine falcons. The frequent shifts in direction and shape make it difficult for predators to track and catch individual birds. Others think murmurations are a social behavior, like group celebration rituals that strengthen social bonds between birds. Whatever their true purpose, murmurations remain one of the most spectacular and coordinated displays in nature. The sight of thousands of starlings moving as one is a testament to the impressive flocking abilities of this species.
Key facts about murmurations
- Form just before sunset when starlings gather to roost
- May contain hundreds or thousands of birds
- Provide protection through synchronized, coordinated flight
- One of the most amazing sights in nature
Fact 3: Starlings are prolific cavity nesters
Starlings are opportunistic cavity nesters, meaning they nest in pre-existing cavities rather than building intricate nests like many other bird species. Nests are typically placed in tree holes, old woodpecker cavities, nest boxes, or cracks in buildings. Starlings line their nests with soft materials like grass, pine needles, feathers, and bits of trash.
Cavity nesting provides starlings with shelter and safety for their eggs and chicks. However, their urge to nest just about anywhere can also cause major problems. Starlings have been known to take over farm buildings by nesting in large numbers inside cracks and crevices. Their aggressive nesting habits can displace native bird species relying on the same sites for breeding.
One starling nest can contain 5-7 pale blue eggs that hatch after about 12 days. Both parents share brooding and feeding duties. Starling chicks leave the nest around 21 days after hatching but continue to be fed and cared for by adults for some time after fledging. Two to three successful broods per breeding season is common. With each pair raising upwards of 15-20 chicks per year, starling populations can explode rapidly. Their cavity nesting drive fuels their ability to thrive and spread enormously successful populations across many parts of the world.
Key facts about starling nesting
- Opportunistic cavity nesters rather than builders
- Will nest in any holes/cracks they can fit into
- Aggressive nesting displaces other cavity nesters
- 5-7 pale blue eggs per clutch
- Can raise up to 3 successful broods per season
Conclusion
In summary, starlings are unique birds with some remarkable traits and behaviors. Their ability to mimic a huge range of sounds is unmatched in the avian world. They come together in massive, choreographed flocks called murmurations that are one of nature’s most impressive sights. And starlings are prolific cavity nesters whose urge to nest just about anywhere helps them achieve enormous population success – sometimes to the detriment of other species. These are just three of the many fascinating facts about these common yet underappreciated birds. Starlings demonstrate that even species we think of as ordinary can be full of surprises.