16 



bluebirds, tree s\yallows and wrens, and as it extends its range 

 to the west and south it must compete with other species. In 

 the region already occupied it has proved itself capable of 

 driving out all the above-mentioned species except the screech 

 owl, which doubtless will prove its master. 



In America the starling is not regarded as particularly pug- 

 nacious except where it has to fight for nesting places or for 

 food. In such cases it is combativeness personified, and its 

 attacks are well directed and long continued. Usually in its 

 competition with the sparrow there is no fighting, for the spar- 

 row soon learns that it is no match for the starling, and the 

 contest degenerates into a straw-pulling match, each bird alter- 

 nately clearing out the nesting material that the other brings. 

 If the owner of the nest joins battle with the starling and fights 

 stubbornly it is driven off, or it is sometimes killed in its nest. 

 This daring interloper attacks birds much larger than itself, 

 and the evidence shows that almost invariably it prevails in 

 the end. The sparrow, the bluebird and the flicker have been 

 credited with repelling it for a time, but eventually the starling 

 wins, because of its increasing numbers, superior strength, 

 courage and fitness. As the starling comes, native birds, whose 

 nesting places it covets, must go, and many of these birds are 

 more desirable than the starling. The skillful manner in which 

 it evicts the flicker inspires the observer with a certain ad- 

 miration for its superior strategy and prowess. The starlings 

 quietly watch and never interfere while the flicker digs and 

 shapes its nesting place in some decaying tree; but when the 

 nest is finished to the satisfaction of the starlings it is occupied 

 by them the moment the flicker's back is turned. On the 

 return of the flicker a fight ensues, which usually results in the 

 eviction of the particular starling then in the hole, which, 

 however, keeps up the fight outside while another enters the 

 hole to defend it against the flicker, which, having temporarily 

 vanquished the first, returns only to find a second enjoying the 

 advantages of possession. As Mr. Job says, the flicker is con- 

 fronted with "an endless chain of starling," and finally gives 

 up.^ 



In this or some other way the starlings, working together, 



• Job, Herbert K.: "Danger from the Starling." "The Outing." November, 1910, p. 149. 



