Distribution and habitat Common starling

1 distribution , habitat

1.1 introduced populations

1.1.1 south america
1.1.2 australia
1.1.3 new zealand
1.1.4 north america
1.1.5 polynesia
1.1.6 south africa
1.1.7 west indies

distribution , habitat

the global population of common starlings estimated 310 million individuals in 2004, occupying total area of 8,870,000 km (3,420,000 sq mi). widespread throughout northern hemisphere, bird native eurasia , found throughout europe, northern africa (from morocco egypt), india (mainly in north regularly extending further south , extending maldives) nepal, middle east including syria, iran, , iraq , north-western china.

a flock resting on pine tree during migration

common starlings in south , west of europe , south of latitude 40°n resident, although other populations migrate regions winter harsh, ground frozen , food scarce. large numbers of birds northern europe, russia , ukraine migrate south westwards or south eastwards. in autumn, when immigrants arriving eastern europe, many of britain s common starlings setting off iberia , north africa. other groups of birds in passage across country , pathways of these different streams of bird may cross. of 15,000 birds ringed nestlings in merseyside, england, individuals have been recovered @ various times of year far afield norway, sweden, finland, russia, ukraine, poland, germany , low countries. small numbers of common starling have sporadically been observed in japan , hong kong unclear these birds originated. in north america, northern populations have developed migration pattern, vacating of canada in winter. birds in east of country move southwards, , further west winter in southwest of us.

common starlings prefer urban or suburban areas artificial structures , trees provide adequate nesting , roosting sites. reedbeds favoured roosting , birds commonly feed in grassy areas such farmland, grazing pastures, playing fields, golf courses , airfields short grass makes foraging easy. inhabit open forests , woodlands , found in shrubby areas such australian heathland. common starlings inhabit dense, wet forests (i.e. rainforests or wet sclerophyll forests) found in coastal areas, nest , roost on cliffs , forage amongst seaweed. ability adapt large variety of habitats has allowed them disperse , establish in diverse locations around world resulting in habitat range coastal wetlands alpine forests, sea cliffs mountain ranges 1,900 m (6,200 ft) above sea level.

introduced populations

the common starling has been introduced , has established in new zealand, australia, south africa, north america, fiji , several caribbean islands. result, has been able migrate thailand, southeast asia , new guinea.

south america

five individuals conveyed on ship england alighted near lago de maracaibo in venezuela in november 1949, subsequently vanished. in 1987, small population of common starlings observed nesting in gardens in city of buenos aires. since then, despite initial attempts @ eradication, bird has been expanding breeding range @ average rate of 7.5 km (4.7 mi) per year, keeping within 30 km (19 mi) of atlantic coast. in argentina, species makes use of variety of natural , man-made nesting sites, particularly woodpecker holes.

australia

the common starling introduced australia consume insect pests of farm crops. settlers looked forward arrival, believing common starlings important pollination of flax, major agricultural product. nest-boxes newly released birds placed on farms , near crops. common starling introduced melbourne in 1857 , sydney 2 decades later. 1880s, established populations present in southeast of country work of acclimatisation committees. 1920s, common starlings widespread throughout victoria, queensland , new south wales, considered pests. although common starlings first sighted in albany, western australia in 1917, have been largely prevented spreading state. wide , arid nullarbor plain provides natural barrier , control measures have been adopted have killed 55,000 birds on 3 decades. common starling has colonised lord howe island , norfolk island.

new zealand

the settlers in new zealand cleared bush , found newly planted crops invaded hordes of caterpillars , other insects deprived of previous food sources. native birds not habituated living in close proximity man common starling introduced europe along house sparrow control pests. first brought on in 1862 nelson acclimatisation society , other introductions followed. birds became established , found on country including subtropical kermadec islands north , equally distant macquarie island far south.

north america

flock in napa valley, california

after 2 failed attempts, 60 common starlings released in 1890 new york s central park eugene schieffelin. president of american acclimatization society, tried introduce every bird species mentioned in works of william shakespeare north america. same date, portland song bird club released 35 pairs of common starlings in portland, oregon. these birds became established disappeared around 1902. common starlings reappeared in pacific northwest in mid-1940s , these birds descendants of 1890 central park introduction. original 60 birds have since swelled in number 150 million, occupying area extending southern canada , alaska central america.

polynesia

the common starling appears have arrived in fiji in 1925 on ono-i-lau , vatoa islands. may have colonised new zealand via raoul in kermadec islands abundant, group being equidistant between new zealand , fiji. spread in fiji has been limited, , there doubts population s viability. tonga colonised @ same date , birds there have been spreading north through group.

south africa

in south africa, common starling introduced in 1897 cecil rhodes. spread , 1954 had reached clanwilliam , port elizabeth. common in southern cape region, thinning out northwards johannesburg area. present in western cape, eastern cape , free state provinces of south africa , lowland lesotho, occasional sightings in kwazulu-natal, gauteng , around town of oranjemund in namibia. in southern africa populations appear resident , bird associated man, habitations , pastures. favours irrigated land , absent regions ground baked dry cannot probe insects. may compete native birds crevice nesting sites indigenous species more disadvantaged destruction of natural habitat inter-specific competition. breeds september december , outside breeding season may congregate in large flocks, roosting in reedbeds. common bird species in urban , agricultural areas.

west indies

the common starling introduced jamaica in 1903, , bahamas , cuba colonised naturally us. bird common local in jamaica, grand bahama , bimini, , rare in rest of bahamas, eastern cuba, cayman islands, puerto rico , st. croix.