THE common starling was formerly known as the Eurasian starling, which was introduced from Britain to Cape Town by Cecil John Rhodes in 1899.
They spread to Port Elizabeth by 1955 and East London by 1966 and Durban by 1973, where they are now only stragglers.
They were also introduced to North America, Australia, New Zealand and some oceanic islands by sailors.
Found in urban areas and farmyards, they are usually gregarious, often occuring in flocks of hundreds of birds when not breeding. They feed on fruit, seeds, fallen grain, insects, spiders, worms, molluscs and lizards.
These starlings forage on lawns, playing fields and mown grasslands, walking with a perky gait, probing frequently with their bill in the grass. The flight is fast and direct, with rapid wingbeats. The flock is highly synchronised in flight. They take off, settle in nearby trees and then return to ground in unison.
They sing with their bill up and wings shivering, the call being a jumble of high pitched squeaks, creaking and piping, sometimes imitating other bird calls.
Breeding season is from September to January. The nest is a loose bowl of grass, pine needles and straw lined with grass, feathers, wool and moss. Three to six pale blue eggs are laid, incubation is 12 days and nestlings remain for about 20 days.
There is no tribal name and in Afrikaans they are known as die Europese spreeu.
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