Starlings in flight

[Mousetoescamper]

Taken in my back yard tonight.



I think these much-maligned birds are quite beautiful. They've been in the United States since 1890 when an eccentric named Eugene Schieffelin released a few dozen European starlings in New York City. He supposedly wanted to introduce to America all the bird species mentioned in William Shakespeare's plays. Mozart kept a starling as a pet for about three years. 



Starlings are now in all 50 states, among the most numerous birds in the country and are considered invasive. Love them or hate them, they're here to stay.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Wow! They look like flying ornaments!

I'm loving seeing the faintly blurry wings and the perfect placement of these birds in the sky!

[Mousetoescamper]

4. Thanks!

[Diamond_Dog]

2. Peggy, you read my mind. Like tree ornaments!

Great capture, Mousetoescamper!

They are handsome birds, but a group of them can clean out my bird feeder in minutes!

[Arkansas Granny]

3. At my feeder they scatter a lot of seeds on the ground. The doves

and squirrels appreciate it.

[Mousetoescamper]

5. Thanks!

[Easterncedar]

6. I have enjoyed the way they sometimes mimic sounds

Like sirens. Quite uncanny!

[Mousetoescamper]

9. They're fascinating. I hope to photograph and video a starling murmuration this fall.

[Easterncedar]

7. Their winter plumage is also handsomer than their breeding plumage, imho!

[Ysabel]

8. Ah!

I love starlings they visit our yard in the morning and then a little while later the cardinals wake up...

[Mousetoescamper]

10. If I'm able to catch a starling murmuration this fall I'll post it in Photography.