Common starling

Commonly seen in paddocks, on rooftops and along the shore, flocking to roost in the evening.

Story

Introduced from 1862 to fight caterpillar plagues, with about 1,000 birds released by the 1880s. They took off. Four birds released in Napier had become 'hundreds of thousands' within 11 years.

Behaviour

Probes pasture with its bill shut, then opens it to look into the hole. Feeds and roosts in flocks, and flies up to 30 km to its roost at dusk. It competes with tūī and bellbirds for flax nectar.