Introduced into New Zealand between 1862 – 83 and now abundant throughout the mainland and suitable offshore islands in farmland, orchards, gardens, forest edges and beaches.

The breeding plumage is glossy black with a purple sheen on the head and breast, and a dark green sheen and buff spangling on the wings and abdomen.  The bill is pointed, bluish base in the male, pinkish in the female.  When not breeding the head and body is spotted buff and white and the bill is dark.  The call is a descending whistle: ‘cheeoo’; and the song is a rambling collection of clicks, rattles, warbles and gargles interspersed with musical whistles.  They are good mimics.

Starlings feed and roost in large flocks.  The waddling , jerky walk is rather distinctive and the bird feeds on the ground by jabbing the bill into the soil.  The diet is a mix of invertebrates such as grass grubs, caterpillars, moths, worms, snails and spiders, and fruit and nectar from flax and pohutakawa flowers.

Breeding is between October and January.  The nest is a cup of dry grass, twigs and leaves built in tree holes, crevices in cliffs and in buildings and garden nest boxes.  Clutches of 3 – 5 clear pale blue eggs are incubated by both parents for 11 days.  Both parents feed the chicks until they fledge at 18 – 20 days and often continue to feed the chicks for 1 – 2 weeks after leaving the nest.

Huge flocks arrive at nightfall to roost overnight on Tiri.

Photography by:  Max McRae ©

References: Heather, B.D.; Robertson, H.A. 2000 The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, Viking.
Moon, G The Reed Field Guide to New Zealand Birds.