ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE STARLING. 9 



The first new feathers appear on the sides of the breast, the flanks, 

 and the center of the back, while the plumage of the head is the last 

 to change. During July, August, and early September, young birds 

 in all stages of the molt may be found. When the plumage has 

 completely changed the young can not with certainty be distin- 

 guished from the adults, although they tend to have larger white 

 tips to the feathers below. 



In flight the starling may be confused with a few other species. 

 From its habit of sailing on fixed wings for considerable distances 

 it is often mistaken for the purple martin, but a little watching will 

 reveal the starling's greater speed. When in flocks starlings may 

 be distinguished from other gregarious species with which they often 

 associate by the wonderful coordination of action between the in- 

 dividuals of the flock, their rapid wing beats, great speed, and ability 

 to alter direction instantly. 



In searching for food the starling walks rather rapidly and with 

 little change in pace, keeping up a continuous zigzag course when 

 on grassland, seldom hesitating unless to pick up food. 



The contention of many bird lovers that the starling's lack of song 

 is a good reason for not allowing it to supplant native songsters is open 

 to controversy. While its notes, outside of a clear whistle or two 

 and a coarse rasping note of alarm, are subdued and lack melody, 

 should one chance to be close to a male starling putting forth his 

 best efforts, the results will be as fascinating as the more celebrated 

 whisper songs of the catbird or of the brown thrasher. The starling 

 is a mimic par excellence and has the notes of a number of our 

 native birds already in its repertoire, a fact that has often led to 

 error in identification when the observer placed too much confi- 

 dence in notes alone. Perhaps the bird most frequently imitated 

 is the wood pewee, whose plaintive "pee-a-wee" is reproduced 

 with sucli delicate skill that it can not be distinguished from the 

 song of the woodland flycatcher itself. The mellow tones of the 

 bluebird's call are given with almost equal fineness. In areas where 

 the bob-white is common its two-noted whistle is readily taken up 

 by the starling and executed in a way that closely resembles the 

 original. Notes of the red-winged blackbird, grackle, field sparrow, 

 flicker, blue jay, Carolina wren, and English sparrow also are given, 

 but less frequently. Young starlings have a harsh, hissing, or rasping 

 note, which seems to have its origin as a feeding call, but is given for 

 some time after leaving the nest. 



LIFE HISTORY. 



During the first week in April the wintering flocks of starlings 

 begin to decrease in numbers as the birds mate and wander off in 

 182334°— 21 2 



