The Amethyst Starling: A Gem-like Intruder with Troublesome Dining Habits Invading North America

Spring is a time when the world celebrates life, with plants blooming into colorful flowers and birds filling the air with melodious songs. Speaking of birds, one species that is commonly heard during this season is the Starling, which brings vitality to urban gardens across the United States. Among the various starling species, the Amethyst Starling stands out, and once you lay eyes on it, you will understand why it has earned such a gem-like name.

Spring is a time when the world celebrates life, with plants blooming into colorful flowers and birds filling the air with melodious songs. Speaking of birds, one species that is commonly heard during this season is the Starling, which brings vitality to urban gardens across the United States. Among the various starling species, the Amethyst Starling stands out, and once you lay eyes on it, you will understand why it has earned such a gem-like name.

Originating from northern South Africa and extending all the way to Senegal on the west coast, as well as northern Tanzania on the east coast of the continent, the Amethyst Starling (Cinnyricinlus leucogaster) prefers woodland, savanna forest edges, and riverine habitats. While these birds are generally pleasant, they do have a tendency to be invasive, displacing other species as they spread.

Birds have always played a significant role in human culture, particularly in plays and poetry. They are prominently featured in many of Shakespeare’s works, with species like Wrens, owls, nightingales, and larks, among others, earning a special place in people’s hearts thanks to the playwright’s talent.

Eugene Schieffelin, a German immigrant, was so captivated by birds in Shakespeare’s writings that he introduced several of them to North America. However, one of these avian imports has become somewhat of a nuisance in the United States.