Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Science Article 6 abstract Many bird species flock to forage on newly mown grass swards. Several potential benefitsare offered by such swards, including increases in prey availability (flush of foliar prey,reduced physical obstruction to surface and soil prey) and a foraging environment withfewer visual obstructions, so allowing predators to be detected more […]
Tag: all of Sturnus
Spring temperatures and laying dates of first eggs of three passerines in Croatia
Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Science Article 17 abstract This study is based on the spring temperaturesand laying dates of first eggs of threepasserines (sedentary: Great Tit, Parus majorand Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus; migratory:Starling, Sturnus vulgaris). Laying datesof first eggs were used as estimates of timingof breeding. The term ‘laying date’ is definedas the date of laying […]
Nest hole age decreases nest site attractiveness for the European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris).
Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Science Article 14 abstract I studied whether the European Starling Sturnus vulgaris has a preference for a particularage of their nesting hole in an old deciduous forest in Central Poland. I documented theprobabilitythat Starlings bred in natural holes (excavated byGreat Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major) of a known age in consecutive seasons. Occupation rates […]
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 […]
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 […]