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European Starling or Sturnus Vulgaris Essay

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The Common Starling, otherwise known as Sturnus Vulgaris or European Starling, is a medium sized songbird that is a member of the Sturnidae bird family. These birds are known to mimic sounds from other species and can even mimic human speech when held in captivity. They are very stout in their build and have short tails. They change color depending on the season, such as purple-green feathers in the summer and brown feathers with white spots in the winter. Common Starlings originated in Europe, specifically Norway, Russia, and Siberia. During the winter, they migrated to northern Africa and India. From there, Starlings have been introduced to several places such as Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, South Africa, and North America. They …show more content…

When a flock of them land in an agricultural area, they do a considerable amount of damage to crops such as Cherries, Olives, Grapes, etc. They also damage wheat fields by digging up grain and eating the seeds. Starlings can transmit diseases to livestock and humans such as transmissible gastroenteritis virus, salmonella, and blastomycosis. Histoplasmosis, a fungal respiratory disease, is another health concern. It’s occurs during large winter roosts with these birds. The mass accrue of droppings enrich the soil where the fungus grows. When disturbed, the spores from the fungus can become airborne. If inhaled, Histoplasmosis can be contracted. Most cases are mild, but on occasion it can cause blindness and even death.
Starlings are extremely aggressive and will compete with other species of birds as well as their own. They attack other birds and their nests, sometimes even taking over their nest as their own. Eggs in those nests are usually destroyed by the Starling. Because of the Starlings aggressive ways, there has been a decrease of native birds.
Although Starlings cause numerous problems, they have also been shown to benefit the environment. Starlings will eat just about anything from seeds to small insects and other invertebrates. This greatly helps control the pest problems in agricultural areas.
Numerous control methods have been advised to stop the expansion of Starlings. These methods

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