Starling -Tāringi
The beauty of the Starling often goes unseen as from a distance it appears black, but on closer inspection it has an array of iridescent colours from purple to dark green and white speckles too.
They were introduced from Europe to help with a caterpillar plague and were very successful. Even today some farmers build birdhouses to encourage them as they are so good at controlling grass grubs and eating cattle ticks, making them favoured over chemical insecticides and increasingly popular with organic farms.
They like a closed nesting box like the Kohab Starling Birdhouse which is specifically designed for starlings and will keep them safe from the predatory Myna bird. The Myna bird often bullies Starlings so the Kohab Birdhouse has an entry hole that is just right for them and too small for the Myna to get in and kill them or their eggs.
Starlings like to roost together and can gather en-masse in huge flocks over 1000 birds which is a noisy and messy event that is discouraged in many cities.
What do Starlings Eat?
Starlings will travel up to 30km to their favourite feeding spot. They eat a wide mix of invertebrates which they forage for on the ground and in vegetation. They will also feed on fruit and nectar from flax and pohutukawa flowers and catch insects on the wing.
They like a firm location to feed on so are unlikely to go to a hanging feeder but will visit a solid bird table. Kohab Wild Bird Seed is ideal for them and includes lots of their favourite seeds.
The other way to support the Staling is to support their natural food source, insects. This can be done by leaving leaf litter to accumulate and planting insect-friendly plants.
