First noticed in Nebraska in 1930. In 1890, a Shakespeare fan named Eugene Schieffelin, who had read about starlings in the Bard’s “Henry IV,” was inspired to bring some of the birds with him to America. Snapshot : European starlings are a remarkably successful invasive species known to compete with native bird species for nest cavities.
They are considered to be an invasive species. Pathway of Introduction and Spread. Today, there are an estimated 220 million starlings in North America, causing $800 million in agricultural damage each year. Invasive Species Program; Species; Wildlife; European Starling; European Starling. Many of the problems created by starlings stem from their abundance. European Starling Sternus vulgaris. Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (Australia). Starlings are known to compete with, displace, and kill many native birds and their young.

He brought 60 European starlings to New York and released them in Central Park. Sociable at most seasons, Starlings may gather in immense flocks in fall and winter. This is a group of passerine birds which are native to southern Asia, especially India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.Several species have been introduced to areas like North America, Australia, South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand, especially the common myna which is often regarded as an invasive species.
European Starlings are normally described as loud, obnoxious, destructive birds, who steal grain, ravage crops and force out native bird species. The most common and the worst nuisance bird species in North America is the European Starling. George M. Linz Research Wildlife Biologist (retired) USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Fort Collins, Colorado Human-Wildlife Conflicts European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris, Figure 1) are an invasive species in the United States. Threat(s): Far from being considered beautiful, delicious or beneficial, European Starlings in the United States are normally decried as loud, obnoxious, destructive birds, who steal grain, ravage crops and crowd out native bird species. Female European starling in winter plumage.

They are stocky black birds with short tails, triangular wings, and long, pointed bills. Starlings are now considered an invasive species and are despised by ecologists and birders alike.

... Starlings are found in a wide variety of habitats including cities, towns, farms, ranches, open woodlands, fields, and lawns. A single year of exclusion from grazing or mowing appears sufficient to deter foraging by starlings. The invasive birds often nest in tractors and cause fires. Often regarded as a pest, the Starling wins our grudging admiration for its adaptability, toughness, and seeming intelligence. Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage: European Starlings and Their Control (PDF | 759 KB) Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. First brought to North America by Shakespeare enthusiasts in the nineteenth century, European Starlings are now among the continent’s most numerous songbirds. Starlings avoid ungrazed pastures, presumably due to grass height, litter, or both. They are now listed among the top 100 invasive species by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soon after, the American starling population exploded and the species spread rapidly throughout the entire U.S. and much of Canada. Though they’re sometimes resented for their abundance and aggressiveness, they’re still dazzling birds when you get a good look. Native to Eurasia, the species has been so successfully introduced around the world that it is considered an invasive bird in many areas, including North America.