TRUE STARLINGS 
341 
Economic Status. The food habits of the Common Shrike are similar to 
those of the Northern Shrike, differing only as would be expected in a 
smaller and weaker bird and a summer rather than a winter resident. 
Thus we find that fewer birds and mammals and more insects are taken, 
indeed during the height of the insect season insects seem to constitute the 
greater part of its food. Early in the summer great numbers of beetles are 
eaten, useful and harmful forms being about equally divided in numbers. 
Later, grasshoppers and crickets form a large proportion of the food, but 
numbers of caterpillars — many of them hairy — cutworms, some wasps, 
spiders, and other insect forms are also taken. The food of the species 
throughout the year is regarded by the United States Biological Survey as 
being beneficial in the ratio of 4 to 1. 
FAMILY — STURNIDAE. TRUE STARLINGS 
An Old World family separated from the American Starlings by 
having, among other distinctions, ten instead of nine primaries; the first 
may be rudimentary as in the species below. The family is not native to 
America but two species have been introduced and are increasing alarmingly. 
Introduced: 
493. Common Starling. l’Istourneau ordinaire. Stumus vulgaris. L, 8-5. A 
little smaller than a Red-winged Blackbird and with a shorter tail. Adult in autumn all 
metallic black, sharply dotted all over with cream-buff round and V-shaped spots (Figure 
424). In spring with most of the light spotting worn off, the metallic iridescence very 
prominent, a yellow bill (Figure 423), and reddish legs. Autumn juvenile greyish brown 
with whitish throat. 
European Starling (summer); scale, 
Figure 424 
European Starling 
(juvenile, winter); scale, 3 . 
Distinctions. In spring a blackbird with a yellow bill and reddish legs. In autumn a 
blackbird with fine, light specklings. Juvenile a brownish blackbird with a whitish throat. 
In all seasons a blackbird with a short tail. 
Field Marks. Like a blackbird with a short, stubby tail. The yellow bill when 
obvious is very distinctive. 
Nesting. Large untidy masses of grass, twigs, and rubbish in crevices of buildings 
and in hollow trees. Will occupy nest boxes. 
Distribution. Originally west and central Europe. Introduced in New York City 
in 1890 and has spread over an ever-widening area. In Canada it has now occupied much 
of the southern parts of the Maritime Provinces and all of southern Ontario and Quebec, 
north and west to Port Arthur. It seems to stand our winters well and its ultimate range 
in the Dominion cannot be forecast. 
