THE STARLING 



STURNUS VULGARIS 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : 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. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'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. The 

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