This huge hulk of a bird stopped by for a very long visit last month. At first I was dazzled by her golden flecks and long orange beak, but then she stayed and stayed and ate and ate in precisely the fashion in which she is pictured below, crouching over because her huge size prevented her from eating comfortably at our feeder. I wasn't so dazzled by the time she left.
European Starlings were introduced to the United States in the 1890's in an effort to bring all of Shakespeare's birds to North America (the starling was mentioned in Henry IV). The have done quite well here; so well that they are now considered a nuisance. They are cavity nesters and as deforestation becomes more of an issue, native species are being crowded out by birds.
They hang out in large groups, except for this one, who was all by herself...
1 comment:
I remember reading about the introduction of the European Starling to North America at the museum. Very strange.
Love your bird pictures, though!
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