SCIENTIFIC NAME: Sturnus vulgaris

HOW TO IDENTIFY A STARLING

The Common Starling has a wide variation in plumage. Both sexes are similar, although the female is less glossy than the male. In autumn, when the plumage is new, birds are glossed black, with a purple and green shine, and the tips of the body feathers have large white spots. At this time the bill is dark and the legs are brown. With wear, the white spots are lost, while the bill and legs turn yellow. During the breeding season adults become glossy-black without any spots. Young birds are dull grey-brown.

WHERE ARE STARLINGS COMMONLY FOUND?

The Common Starling is a prominent bird in open cultivated areas, and is a well-known pest of orchards. However, Starlings can be found around human habitation nesting in roof voids, ledges/awnings, under sarking or in holes in walls.

WHY ARE STARLINGS CONSIDERED A PEST?

Starlings a considered a pest because of the damage to buildings and guttering due to acidic nature of droppings. Noise pollution is also a problem when Starlings are present in large numbers.

Starlings are also a carriers of bird mites.

WHAT IS THE BIOLOGY AND LIFECYCLE OF A STARLING?

Breeding season from Sept to January with two clutches of 5-7 eggs each.

The life span of a Starling is 2-3 years.

Management Tips for Starlings

To effectively protect a building from a bird problem, it often requires a combination of products.  Take into account the following in designing your bird protection system:

• Bird species/pressure

• Building structure

• Location of problem

• Installation issues

• Durability requirements

• Aesthetic requirements

• Safety/environmental concerns

• Cost

A wide range of bird protection systems are available to effectively protect a building from a bird problem with various different methods:

Area exclusions - When installed correctly, bird netting provides the most complete, humane and durable system for bird exclusion.

Ledge exclusion - Large Birds: A system of spikes, wires and spiders can be utilised to discourage birds from landing on ledges. All Birds: a system of slopes and shock systems can be utilised.

Scare devices - A variety of scarer and repeller devices are available

Traps - For humane and safe removal of birds, particularly in sensitive areas

Avicide - For pigeons, sparrows and starlings.  Only for application by authorised persons.

Solar panel protection - Solar panel exclusion kits are designed to prevent nesting under solar arrays - avoids expensive damage and reduction in efficiency due to bird droppings on panels.

Disease protection - PX Ornikill can be used as a clean up product and disease protection treatment, kill a range of disease organisms associated with pest birds such as ornithosis and psittacosis.