Are those starlings?

[Haoleguy]

Last month while working in the vineyard we saw more than a few starlings. This is what they call a murmuration ... EnoViti: Birds: Director's Cut ....... When they went by I could feel a breeze. Luckily no tird bombing !

 

[LD1]

I guess everyone I know around here has been calling them by the incorrect name.

The "grackle" is what we call starlings.

the "starling" is what we simply call a "black bird"

 

[rekees4300]

I saw six black birds landing on our bird feeder today. I was able to snap just one picture before they flew away. It was about 6F. Are those starlings? Shouldn't they be in Florida by now?

Yes, those are Starlings. Trust me when I tell you that these nasty creatures are nothing but trouble! :thumbdown: The best "food" for them are pellets from a 12GA. shotgun blast.

 

[Fossil Farm]

Starlings and house sparrows were brought over from England so they would have a "slice of home" here in the states, and have been a nuisance ever since (the birds that is). The only good starling and house sparrow is a dead one. Starlings have a spotted breast. Grackles have an iridescent coloring to them and are larger. Blackbirds do migrate (at least from around here) and are actually a better teller of springs arrival. The males show up first to claim territory before the females arrive.

 

[rgr33]

Around here we don't have any grackles, but we do have blackbirds that stay year round, and starlings.
Blackbirds are solid black, with black beaks.
Starlings are blackish gray with light colored flecks, and have a yellow beak.
They are both the same size. A couple of years ago starlings ripped off the wire screen that covered the attic vents. They made a disgusting mess before I could get up there to fix it. Now they are dead on sight if I see them setting up shop around here. Don't like to kill things, but make an exception for starlings.

 

[the old grind]

Starlings are noted for their short tails, speckled color, and at distance by their wobbly strut when walking. Their beaks are quite yellow in Spring, darkening over Summer.

I built a perch where they climb into the soffit to set big snap and coni 110 traps for those who would dare enter there. Must have got 8 or 10 by the time nesting was done last Summer. Got a laugh when I saw a not quite mature cowbird flying 'back' into where he must have hatched. Had a few get tossed by a snap into a 110 and still need to be finished with a pellet gun.

btw, Cowbirds are a lot easier to draw a bead on when perched. Smaller groups are less easily spooked, too. I get good patterns with .410 in Rem 11-48 and a Super Commanche with a wad-spin stopper muzzle thingie that puts .45/.410 revolver patterns to shame beyond a mere few yds. 'Hosps' tend to be loners and can be stalked near where bluebirds nest. (obviously )

Now that I've got myself all blood-thirsty (your help much appreciated) I'd better get to the barn and set my rat-snaps & cages for 'reds' and Spring 'coons.

"You never stand so tall as when you stoop to stomp a varmint."_ 'CarToons'

(... still no thread alerts ...)

 

[k0ua]

It seems like every starling you kill 10 take its place. I saw thousands of them yesterday along side 60 highway. On a trip to Monett Mo. Many bunch's of a few hundred in each bunch. They are a classic example of an invasive species. Millions have been spent on eradication, but I don't see much results.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I don't recall seeing that particular variety of Grackle here, but we do have one which appears to be the Boat Tailed Grackle. They are noisy, and hang out in parking lots feeding on what ever. They seem to have very little fear of people, and I have never seen one run over in spite of the fact that they are under and around cars all of the time.

They only appeared here in the 60's and 70's, along with the Armadillo.

 

[Redneck in training]

Starlings are a problem even in their native country. They destroy cherries, grapes you name it in minutes. They take single bite from each fruit and before you know it they are all rotten.

 

[MossRoad]

.22 bird shot works well on starlings near barns with little damage to buildings. We use to have to shoot them inside the airplane hangars because of all the damage they did to the building.