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European Starling Nest, Eggs and Young

Cavity nester photos of nests eggs and young Also see:
  • Descriptions of cavity-nester nests and eggs and downloadable 2 page guide (PDF) to common nests found in CT
  • PHOTO ALBUM with pictures of cavity nesting birds, nests and eggs
  • TABLE showing relative sizes of eggs, and egg photos side by side
  • Mystery nests (have fun trying to guess)
  • Unusual nest sites Part 1 Part 2
  • Weird eggs  (e.g., dwarf, odd coloration)
  • Cavity Nester Nests, Eggs and Young Photos and Bios:

    Starling Nest. Photo by Bet Zimmerman.
     

    This nest is under construction.

    Nest Description: The nest is bulky and slovenly. The cavity is filled up with grass, weed stems, twigs, corn husks, dried leaves, pine needles, etc, with a depression near the back. Feathers, rootlets, paper, plastics, cloth, string etc. may also be added. The cup lining may include feathers, fine bark, leaves, fine grass etc. Some nests also have fresh green plants (thought to work as fumigants against parasites and pathogens) like yarrow in them. May occupy boxes with holes larger than 1.5 inches.

    For more information, see All About Starlings.

    Robin's egg next to a Starling Egg. Photo by E Zimmerman.  Photo looks darker than real life.
      Egg Description: The slightly glossy eggs are pale bluish- or greenish-white (rare reports of eggs with fine reddish-brown spots), and are slightly smaller and darker than a Robin's egg.
    Starling nestlings.  Notice lemon-yellow beak.  Gape is
     

    Young: These young are not in a Starling nest. Notice the width of the beak relative to the head.

    Good video of stages of starling development


      The student of Nature wonders the more and is astonished the less, the more conversant he becomes with her operations; but of all the perennial miracles she offers to his inspection, perhaps the most worthy of admiration is the development of a plant or of an animal from its embryo.
      -Thomas Henry Huxley, British biologist and educator. Reflection #54, Aphorisms and Reflections, selected by Henrietta A. Huxley, Macmillan, 1907.


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    Last updated April 28, 2008 . Design by Chimalis.

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