In science and culture Common starling

pet in cage

common starlings may kept pets or laboratory animals. austrian ethologist konrad lorenz wrote of them in book king solomon s ring poor man s dog , love , because nestlings obtained wild , after careful hand rearing straightforward after. adapt captivity, , thrive on diet of standard bird feed , mealworms. several birds may kept in same cage, , inquisitiveness makes them easy train or study. disadvantages messy , indiscriminate defecation habits , need take precautions against diseases may transmitted humans. laboratory bird, common starling second in numbers domestic pigeon.

the common starling s gift mimicry has long been recognised. in medieval welsh mabinogion, branwen tamed common starling, taught words , , sent across irish sea message brothers, bran , manawydan, sailed wales ireland rescue her. pliny elder claimed these birds taught speak whole sentences in latin , greek, , in henry iv, william shakespeare had hotspur declare king forbade tongue speak of mortimer. find him when asleep, , in ear ll holler mortimer! nay ll have starling shall taught speak nothing mortimer, , give him keep anger still in motion.

mozart s starling song

mozart had pet common starling sing part of piano concerto in g major (kv. 453). had bought shop after hearing sing phrase work wrote 6 weeks previously, had not yet been performed in public. became attached bird , arranged elaborate funeral when died 3 years later. has been suggested musical joke (k. 522) might written in comical, inconsequential style of starling s vocalisation. other people have owned common starlings report how adept @ picking phrases , expressions. words have no meaning starling, mix them or use them on humans inappropriate occasions in songs. ability @ mimicry great strangers have looked in vain human think have heard speak.

common starlings trapped food in mediterranean countries. meat tough , of low quality, casseroled or made pâté. 1 recipe said should stewed until tender, long may . when correctly prepared, may still seen acquired taste.