Starling (European)

Beginning with 100 individuals introduced into Central Park in New York City in the early 1890s, the European Starling has become one of the most numerous birds on the North American continent. Its spread is believed to have come at the expense of many native birds that compete with the starling for nest holes.

 

The male tends to be larger and more iridescent, but some females can be larger, glossier, and have longer feathers than some males.

 

During breeding when they have yellow bills, the base of a male's lower mandible is blue-gray, while the female's is pinkish. The male's eyes are a uniform deep brown, but the female has a narrow, lighter colour ring around the outer edge.

Photographed in the wild, Etobicoke, ON