Birds carry and transmit over 60 different types of diseases! Here are just a few that negatively affect humans, pets, and livestock: Aspergillosis Avian Influenza (H5N1) Blastomycosis Candidiasis Capillariasis Chlamydial Chlamydiosis Coccidiosis Cryptococcosis Dermatosis Echinostoma revolutum Encephalitis Erysipeloid Fowl Cholera Fowl Typhoid Haplorchis Pumilio Histoplasmosis Hypoderaeum conoideum Infectious Coryza Listerious Meningitis Mycotic Diseases New Castle Disease Parasitic Nematodes Parasitic Trematodes Paratyphoid Pasteurellosis Protozoal Diseases Pullorum Disease Salmonellosis Sarcosporidiosis Schistosomiasis Spirochetosis St. Louis Encephalitis Streptococosis Taxoplasmosis Trichomoniasis Tuberculosis Ulcerative Enteritis Vibriosis Viral Diseases West Nile Virus Yersiniosis

The life span of a starling typically ranges anywhere from 2 to 3 years. There are some cases where starlings are kept in captivity and live up to 20 years. Starlings in the wild can live for 2-3 years, but their lives are often cut short because of their aggressive behavior and interactions they have with predators. Fights are known to break out amongst male starlings over breeding which can result in starling deaths.

Starlings have a number of subspecies that are found all over the world! These birds are not native to North America, but are an introduced species. These birds are native to southern and western Europe as well as southwestern Asia. These birds are typically found in urban and agricultural settings. In the US, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 protects all native birds but does not apply to the growing starling population. This is because starlings are an introduced species in America and are considered a pest bird. Starlings are very aggressive birds that are known to evict other native birds by attacking their eggs and young. Starlings are known to create massive flocks that can number from 100,000 to over a million birds!

Starlings are considered to be cavity nesters, in that they prefer to nest in closed off areas that are covered on every side. Starlings are known to build nests in vents and air ducts in homes and business properties as well as the bird houses that people put up. Starlings rely on urban areas and the human population to provide them with food and the sites that they need for nesting. This is why starlings are primarily found in highly populated and urban areas. Nests are made up of grasses, moss, and feathers.

Feed per day: .03lbs per bird Starlings eat a variety of foods and are known as bold and aggressive scavengers. These birds are known to eat fruit such as grapes, tomatoes, peaches, apples, and strawberries, grains, seeds, insects, worms, spiders, lizards, frogs, and snails! Starlings are unique to other birds in that 45-90% of their diet is made up of animal matter. This can be food that is found in the garbage, farms or other agricultural properties, pastures, etc. Starlings have a great sense of smell that makes them able to find the food that they want easily.

To attract mates, the male starling will build the base of a nest and will sing from the perch closest to the nest. The female starling will hear the song and will come and finish the nest by lining it with grass and feathers. The peak breeding time of the year is the spring, typically in April and May. All birds in a flock will begin to lay eggs within a few days of each other. Female starlings will lay 4-6 eggs that will then hatch after 12 days. Young chicks are fed insects, earthworms, and spiders for 12 days by both parents. Because of the cavity nesting style of starlings, over 70% of eggs that are hatched produce healthy chicks that are able to leave the nest.