Common Starling

European, or common, starling

common starling, (Sturnus vulgaris), also called European starling, species of bird in the starling family, Sturnidae, and the order Passeriformes native to Europe and parts of the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa. Common, or European, starlings were intentionally introduced to a wide range of other regions during the 19th and 20th centuries, likely for insect control and to contribute to the aesthetics of local landscapes. Beyond their native range, they became almost globally established during the 20th century and are now widely considered to be an invasive species. Thriving populations exist across North America and in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina.

According to popular myth, common starlings were first introduced to North America in 1890 by bird enthusiast Eugene Schieffelin. Allegedly, he imported 60 starlings from Europe that he released into New York City’s Central Park, as part of an effort to populate the park with birds mentioned in the plays of English poet and dramatist William Shakespeare. Some sources note that Schieffelin also released an additional 40 birds in 1891. It is often said that the nearly 200 million starlings that now inhabit North America descended from this original release of birds, though it may have taken multiple releases for the starlings to become fully established. Reports of other starling introductions occurring in New York, in the Midwest, and on the West Coast, however, date to 1872, and there is much debate over whether Schieffelin was a fan of the bard.