Tag: all of Sturnus

The effect of sward height and drainage on Common Starlings Sturnus vulgaris and Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus foraging in grassland habitats

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Science Article 16 abstract Agricultural change is often cited as a causal factor in the decline of the UK’s farmland birds because bird declines have mirrored changes in agricultural practices. Although much is known about the mechanisms driving population declines on arable systems, mechanisms in grassland systems are relatively poorly studied, despite […]

Temporal and sequential organization of song bouts in the Starling

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Science Article 12 abstract Temporal analysis of Starling song revealed that males sing very long and complex song bouts, some extending over one minute and containing over ninety song bouts. Starlings sing with immediate variety. There are clear differences in average bout length and in singing rate between males. Starling song bouts […]

Parasite defence in birds: the role of volatiles

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Science Article 8 abstract European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) mix fresh herbs, preferably species rich in volatile compounds, into their drynest material. By investigating air samples from starling nest boxes, we found that nestlings and their parasites encountervolatile compounds such as sabinene, myrcene, limonene, phelandrene and ocimene, some of them with medicinal properties.We […]

Social experience, vocal learning and social cognition in theEuropean starling, Sturnus vulgaris

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Science Article 10 abstract European starlings are well known for their rich and varied social life. Recent studies reveal a social organizationbased on same-sex preferences, spatial proximity and vocal sharing in captive groups. Much less is known about socialcognition and the possible role of social experience on the development of cognitive abilities. […]

The potential of particular starlings (Sturnidae) as indicators of habitat change

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Science Article 11 abstract The starlings (Sturnidae) represent a highly successful and adaptable passerine family. Several sturnids, predominantly open country species, have been introduced into new geographic areas through human agency, and some have become pests in the new range. In this context, we investigated habitat use in a typical open habitat […]

Range expansion of the European Starling Sturnus vulgaris in Argentina

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Science Article 18 abstract The European or Common Starling Sturnusvulgaris is considered one of the worst invasivebird species, with successful widespreadintroductions around the world (Feare, 1984).Most releases were made in the nineteenth andearly twentieth centuries and the species hasnow become one of the commonest birds inNew Zealand, south-eastern Australia, SouthernAfrica, as well […]

Conspecific nest parasitism in the European Starling

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Science Article 13 abstract From 1983 to 1988 we monitored 260 European Starling Sturnus vulgaris nests in three nestbox colonies around Antwerp (Belgium), for evidence for conspecific nest parasitism. Altogether 15% of 174 first clutches and 2% of 86 intermediate clutches were parasitized. The yearly proportion of first clutches with parasitic eggs […]

Female starlings adjust primary sex ratio in response to aromatic plants in the nest

Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor) Science Article 1 abstract Adjustment of offspring sex ratios should be favoured by natural selection when parents are capable of facultatively altering brood sex ratios and of recognizing the circumstances that predict the probable fitness benefit of producing sons and daughters. Although experimental studies have shown that female birds may adjust […]

Spotless Starling (Sturnus unicolor)

[order] PASSERIFORMES | [family] Sturnidae | [latin] Sturnus unicolor | [UK] Spotless Starling | [FR] etourneau unicolor | [DE] Einfarb-Star | [ES] Estornino negro | [NL] Zwarte Spreeuw Subspecies Genus Species subspecies Breeding Range Breeding Range 2 Non Breeding Range Creatophora unicolor Sturnus unicolor EU sw Europe, also n Africa Physical charateristics Medium-sized starling of […]

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

[order] PASSERIFORMES | [family] Sturnidae | [latin] Sturnus vulgaris | [UK] Starling | [FR] etourneau sansonnet | [DE] Star | [ES] Estornino Pinto | [NL] Spreeuw Subspecies Genus Species subspecies Breeding Range Breeding Range 2 Non Breeding Range Physical charateristics The Starling is a medium-sized, black songbird with short, triangular wings, spotted plumage, and a […]