Starling Facts & Information

Starlings form communal roosts which can be home to 10,000 or more birds. As they migrate during the winter, flock populations can grow into the hundreds of thousands. Their preferred nesting sites are tall trees or buildings with cavities where they can readily build nests using dead grasses and fresh vegetation rich in chemicals that act as fumigants. Starlings will maintain the insulating properties of the nest until their chicks are feathered, at which point the nests begin to resemble pest-ridden compost. Females will lay as many as seven eggs in one brood. Starling eggs hatch after less than two weeks of incubation and young starlings leave the nest within three weeks of birth.

Now considered one of the worst nuisance birds in this country, Old World starlings were purposely introduced to Central Park, New York City in 1890 by a well-meaning but misguided man. The original 60 pairs that were released rapidly multiplied. Soon after, the American starling population exploded, and the species spread rapidly throughout the entire U.S. and much of Canada. Starlings are known to compete with, displace, and kill many native birds and their young. Starlings are now considered an invasive species and are despised by ecologists, birder enthusiasts, and business owners alike. So, yeah. They live here now.

Starlings like to nest on tall trees or buildings with cavities. They then build nests with dead grasses and fresh vegetation. If you are near trees like this or having these types of cavities in your home or building, then starlings will be happy to take up shop. Starlings love to eat wild and cultivated fruits such as berries and cherries, as well as large quantities of feed from livestock farms. So if you have their preferred foods they will be around and they will definitely bring their friends. They are intelligent birds who engage in a variety of unique behaviors that allow them to thrive in their environments.

Starlings are known to compete with, displace, and kill many native birds and their young. Starlings are considered an invasive species and are despised by ecologists, birder enthusiasts, business owners, and homeowners alike. Their aggressive nature also applies to the way they nest which can do considerable damage to homes, businesses and free-standing structures like garages, porches, sheds, etc. They dig out cavities to build nests from the smallest cracks and crevices to start. Starlings peck and slash to create the cavities, causing considerable damage and compromising structural integrity. Their corrosive droppings can damage all kinds of objects and surfaces which is why you need bird treatment that will repel birds like these.

Starlings will try to dominate any area they occupy and compete with native birds for food and cavity-nesting opportunities. So, while you may like having a bird feeder for the sweeter birdies out there around your home or business, it will also attract the nasty starling. There are plenty of humane techniques that can be used by a professional in the bird mitigation industry that can keep these destructive birds away from your business or home.

We’re passionate about controlling birds around your home or business because we live and work here – it’s our neighborhood, too. With our almost 100 years of experience keeping homes and businesses in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania safe from pests, Western has the experience you can trust.