THE STARLING 
STURNUS VULGARIS 
Loca. names in surrounding counties : 
Status IN British Avirauna: A common and widely 
distributed resident, more local in Scotland (where it has 
increased its range enormously within the past century), 
and especially so in Ireland, where it is most numerous in 
winter. ‘The resident Starlings are increased in numbers 
in autumn by vast migratory hordes. 
RapiAL DisTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: Next to the House Sparrow the Starling is the 
most familiar bird of the Metropolis. It would perhaps 
be difficult to say exactly how near to St. Paul’s the bird 
actually breeds, but certainly a mile or so would be a 
fairly correct estimate. From that limit the Starling 
may be found almost everywhere as a breeding species 
wherever it can find a suitable lodging. It is nowhere 
so abundant as the House Sparrow, but there are many 
places well within our limits where the bird congregates 
in late summer and in autumn in vast multitudes. It is 
a familiar bird in all the large parks and public grounds, 
as well as on the lawns of private houses. It becomes 
increasingly common in the suburbs, and very often large 
flocks may be seen winging their way across the sky to 
certain roosting-places. In many places it is certainly 
increasing in numbers. 
The Starling is the commonest large bird of the suburbs, 
and there are few villas that do not accomodate a pair or 
more. ‘This handsome, lively bird readily accomodates 
itself to circumstances, and its cheery song lends life to 
many an otherwise desolate wilderness of bricks and 
mortar. ‘The parks and open spaces are made all the 
more attrative by the big black birds running about the 
sward or chattering noisily in the surrounding trees. ‘he 
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