European Starling

My backyard was visited by some European Starlings and at least 2 of them might build a nest nearby. I saw on of them picking dry leaves.

These birds are experts insects and bugs hunters. Their sense of hearing must be extremely acute because they walk fast and then poke their pointy bills deep in the ground and grab a worm, spider, grasshopper, grub, larvae etc. I have my doubts that the see the the prey being the grass thick and of course the fact that the bugs a hiding in the ground because there’s danger nearby. I get the impression that they never fail, every time they poke the ground they come out with a different bug.

6 thoughts on “European Starling”

Tranquil Moments Photography on March 30, 2012 at 8:05 am said:

I have had them here for the past 2 weeks. They are eating the suet here as as the ground is still covered in snow. They do have an acute sense of hearing, as whenever I approach a window or door, they fly away. Great series of shots Av.

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avian101 on March 30, 2012 at 8:36 am said:

Good thing about them is that they eat from the ground and clean a lll the bugs, they never go to the feeders for seeds. I don’t want them there either, they’re voracious eaters.
Thank you for your comment D. 🙂

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jmgoyder on March 30, 2012 at 9:03 am said:

Send them over here please!

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- avian101 on March 30, 2012 at 9:38 am said:
  
  I’m surprised you don’t have them there! These birds are not endemic from America, they were brought as an experiment from England and proliferated into millions!
  I’ll UPS a couple tomorrow! 🙂
  
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tootlepedal on March 30, 2012 at 11:33 am said:

They are getting scarce in the UK.

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- avian101 on March 30, 2012 at 12:21 pm said:
  
  I think is much to do with the weather, the cold is getting harsher in Europe not only in UK and warmer in America. The opportunity to migrate to the tropical areas is greater. What do I know? 🙂
  
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H.J. Ruiz – Avian101