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The starling is a bird which is
commonly seen in both urban and
rural areas.
This species has a distinctive
distress call.
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| Breeding |
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| Nests are usually built in holes in trees
or buildings and they will readily take
over nest boxes. The area around the nest
entrance is usually streaked with dropping.
There may be 2 broods in a season, one in
early April and one in mid-May. |
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| Distribution & Roosting |
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| The population of starlings in this country
increases considerably in late September/early
November due to immigrant birds coming in
from Europe and north-west Russia. The birds
return from mid-February to the end of April.
Starlings will fly considerable distances
to feed, up to 20-30 miles. Regular flight
lines are used between feeding sites and
roosts. Tens of thousands of birds may be
present in a large roost and the noise and
fouling produced is considerable. |
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| Feeding |
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| The birds are mainly insectivorous during
the breeding season, with leather jackets
being an important part of the diet. In
winter they are omnivorous and will feed
on invertebrates, stubble, roots, stock
foods and scavenge at refuse tips. |
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