European Starling--A Gorgeous Bird To Hate

I read recently that the European Starling has only been in the United States since the 1890s, but that it proliferated to a point that some were predicting that it would completely wipe out most species. While that did not happen, the Starling is certainly a common bird everywhere we go.

If it wasn't so common, we might appreciate this bird more. It has attractive black feathering, with lots of white spotting. With a strong bill and feet, it can and does eat just about everything from birdfeeder food to garbage.

Often, a quiet bird walk will be interrupted by a series of chirps and calls that momentarily raise the bloodpressure, only to settle down once its creator is seen.

I spotted this Starling munching happily on some suet in our neighbor's yard.