Birds Breeding Within the Limits of the City of New York 



{Continued From JVo. i) 



By John Lewis Chi Ids 

 The Starling 



{Slumus vulgaris) 



HE Starling is a native of Europe, but has been taken in Green- 

 land which gives it a place in the Fauna of North America, A. 

 O. U. No. 493. In 1890 the bird was introduced in New York 

 City by direct importation and has increased with such rapidity 

 that it is now seen for maaiy miles in all directions from New York. It 

 breeds abundantly in upper New York, nesting about buildings and in bel- 

 fries, cupolas and church steeples, and, to some extent, in trees. The eggs, 

 four to six in number, are exceedingly beautiful, being of a pale, bluish- 

 green tint that is decidedly delicate and rare. In winter the Starling is 

 often seen in flocks of fifty or more individuals flying about in quest of food, 

 particularly when the ground is covered with snow. At such times they 

 come regularly to Floral Park to feed upon the berries of the Boston Ivy 

 {Ampelopsis veitchi) which grows in such luxury here on brick buildings. 

 I have never observed them in flocks at any other time, though during 

 spring, summer and fall single individuals or pairs are often seen. 



The Starling is a decidedly handsome bird in plumage, being a metallic 

 green or purple spotted above with buffy-white dots and below with heavier 

 spots of white. On the wing it is graceful and easy. Its note is a long- 

 drawn whistle of two parts and a metallic call. At times a flock is decidedly 

 chatty and noisy. Its food consists of seeds, and berries to some extent, but 

 to a far greater extent insects. There is no bird that does more good in re- 

 spect to its food habits, as it eats large quantities of the most destructive 

 grubs and insects that exist. When a pair have five or six young ones to 

 feed the quantity of ground and tree pests destroyed by them is enormous. 

 Being beautiful and useful, an all-the-year resident, and inhabiting both the 

 city and country, the Starling is a most welcome bird in America, and will 

 never become the nuisance that the English Sparrow has proved itself to be. 



