Snapshot: European Starling

Maybe these birds should be renamed given their successful invasion of North America. There were about 100 birds released into New York City’s Central Park in the early 1890s and now there are 200 million of them living in North America from Alaska down into Mexico. Many people consider this invasive species to be a pest because they are so aggressive toward native birds. The birds in the photo are sporting their specked winter plumage. They will lose the spots by the spring and take on their darker summer look. The spots are feather tips that wear off so they change color without molting!