Family STURNID.I;. 



THE STARLING. 



Sturnus vulgaris, Linnaeus. 

 Plate 19. 



The Starling is widely distributed over the British Islands, and is one of our 

 most common birds. Abroad it is found in the Faroes — where a broader-billed 

 race than ours occurs — and from northern Scandinavia southwards to the Medi- 

 terranean countries. 



The large and rather slovenly nest is placed in a hole in a trunk of a tree, wall, 

 or cliff; in thatch, under the eaves of houses and outbuildings ; sometimes even in 

 thick ivy growing on the walls of a dwelling. It is composed of dead grasses, 

 straws, roots, and moss, roughly lined with some feathers and hair. The eggs, 

 varying in number from four to six or seven, are pale blue, without any markings. 



The song, often heard during the winter months as well as at other times, is 

 delivered as the bird sits perched on some tree or building, and consists of various 

 chattering notes, combined with some which are really musical. 



As he sings the Starling has a habit of flapping and closing his wings, at the 

 same time expanding his crest and the feathers of the throat. 



During the past fifty years this bird has greatly increased in numbers, and 

 although at times helping itself freely to cherries and other fruit, any damage done 

 is more than paid for by the destruction of countless insects and larvae. 



In autumn vast numbers of Starlings find their living in the fields and pastures, 

 and as evening deepens the flocks resort to some favourite roosting-place, such as 

 evergreen shrubberies or reed-beds. 



As the various packs unite, they perform wonderful aerial evolutions before 

 finally settling down for the night. 



The female resembles the male, but the tints are duller, and the light spots are 

 larger. For some time after leaving the nest the young are of a uniform blackish- 

 brown colour, marked underneath with greyish-white. 



136 



