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European Starling


European Starling
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-11-17
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 400, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/320 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-11-18 6:43
Viewed: 776
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
Another one of the European Starlings that were in the garden yesterday.

From: www.birds.cornell.edu

Beginning with 100 individuals introduced into Central Park in New York City in the early 1890s, the European Starling has become one of the most numerous birds on the North American continent. Its successful spread is believed to have come at the expense of many native birds that compete with the starling for nest holes.
Description
Stocky, black bird.
Short, square-tipped tail.
Pointed, triangular wings.
Long pointed bill, yellow in breeding season.
Shimmering green and purple feathers in spring.
Size: 20-23 cm (8-9 in)
Wingspan: 31-40 cm (12-16 in)
Weight: 60-96 g (2.12-3.39 ounces)
Sex Differences
Sexes similar.
Sound
Song is a rather quiet series of rattles and whistled notes, often containing mimicry of other bird species. Flight call a purring "prurrp."
Conservation Status
Introduced into North America in the 1890s, the European Starling quickly spread across the continent. It is a fierce competitor for nest cavities, and frequently expels native bird species. It is believed to be responsible for a decline in native cavity-nesting bird populations, but a study in 2003 found few actual effects on populations of 27 native species. Only sapsuckers showed declines because of starlings, and other species appeared to be holding their own against the invaders. You can help scientists learn more about this species by participating in the Celebrate Urban Birds! project.
Other Names
Étourneau sansonnet (French)
Estornino pinto (Spanish)
Cool Facts
All the European Starlings in North America descended from 100 birds released in New York's Central Park in the early 1890s. A group dedicated to introducing America to all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare's works set the birds free. Today, European Starlings range from Alaska to Florida and northern Mexico, and their population is estimated at over 200 million birds.
Although the sexes look very similar, they do show some subtle differences. The male tends to be larger, more iridescent, and have longer throat feathers, but some females can be larger, more glossy, and have longer feathers than some males. During breeding when they have yellow bills, the base of a male's lower mandible is blue-gray, while the female's is pinkish. The male's eyes are a uniform deep brown, but the female has a narrow, lighter colored ring around the outer edge. In confusing cases, some males four years old or older can develop a faint ring in the eye, and some older females can lose it.
A female European Starling may try to lay an egg in the nest of another female. A female that tries this parasitic tactic often is one that could not get a mate early in the breeding season. The best females find mates and start laying early. The longer it takes to get started, the lower the probability of a nest's success. Those parasitic females may be trying to enhance their own breeding efforts during the time that they cannot breed on their own.
NinaM, eqshannon, metcher, jaycee, boreocypriensis, CeltickRanger, siggi, SelenE, pierrefonds, jconceicao has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Bonjour Mario
Encore une superbe photo d'oiseau,piqué, couleurs coposition, tout est superbe.
Cordialement
Olivier

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 801 W: 3 N: 2100] (6594)
  • [2008-11-18 6:52]

Ah! Mario, tu l'as fait! Depuis le temps que je regarde ces oiseaux et admire leurs belles couleurs d'hiver. Ta photo est splendide, sous cet éclairage un peu dans l'ombre, avec une réflection de lumière parfaite. J'aime vraiment beaucoup cette photo, bravo mon ami!

Francine

Yes..this is the way I like them...a bit more of the green..a startling bird...wonderful colourings..the Maker of these spent some quality time as did the man who imaged them!
bob

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer [C: 88 W: 0 N: 7] (534)
  • [2008-11-18 8:04]

Hi Mario
very nice portrait,gorgeous light and colours.
Good composition and details.Excellent background.
Regards Jiri.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2384 W: 94 N: 5493] (17500)
  • [2008-11-18 8:30]

Hello Mario,
Anoher gorgeous photo of this Starling. (without a pole!)
Superb quality in every aspect. The contrasting colours against the light BG is perfect!
Regards,
Peter

Hi, Mario.
Superb details, colors, sharpness on this starling shot. Nice clean bg supports very well.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-11-18 9:37]

Hi Mario,

Another beautiful Starling. Wish all the Quails in my yard right now were Starlings! Captured perfectly once again showing off that magnificent plummage and coloring in fine detail. Wonderful pose, background and composition.

Jane

Hi friend Mario,
Another perfect shot of this beauty with great DOF and OFF BG.
TFS and cheers,

Bayram

salut Mario

l'étourneau à l'air d'un mal aimé mais c'est un oiseau que j'aime,
très belle image avec une excellente netteté et détails de son plumage,

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1370 W: 56 N: 4704] (16174)
  • [2008-11-18 9:46]

Hello Mario,
Nice work , excellent pose and great colours well composed. Very good sharpness .
Best regards Siggi

Hello Mario,
Good sharpness.
I don't know whether these are its breeding colors. It's quite yellow wing-wise...
Difficult to tell whether this is a female or a male as well.
Nicely done
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2907 W: 34 N: 8619] (32124)
  • [2008-11-18 12:00]

Hi mario. Looking at the green colours in the feathers i think ours over here may have more blue about them . but it may be just the light. I have seen many in a car park by the sea i will go and take a few pictures and see what i get.
This is just excellent once again with fine detail and bright colours. a nice POV. well done TFS. very good notes too.
Nick..

Hi Mario, elegant bird with fantastic details of plumage and splendid sharpness, wonderful blurry BG, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2008-11-18 13:09]

Hi Mario,
Patterns, details and colors on the plumage, background, lighting, POV , color tones and composition look lovely. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 435 W: 10 N: 729] (3178)
  • [2008-11-18 13:11]

Merhaba Mario,
Sevgili dostum bu ne kadar gözalıcı bir kare böyle! Bu türün en güzel karelerinden bir dersem abartmış olmam. Renkler, artalan ve keskinlik olaganüstü güzellikte olmuş. Tebrikler.

Hüseyin

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1977 W: 6 N: 5525] (19661)
  • [2008-11-18 14:18]

Salut Mario,mais qu'on peu de cette photo magnifique et au top de la qualite' ? Dis moi quelche chose a ecrire...je suis etonne' de cette beaute'! Mes plus gros compliments encore s'il suffit...merci de partager ton traval exceptionel,bonne journee',Luciano

hello mario,
beautiful shot of European Starling, this bird looks so beautiful with all the lovely colors and patterns, as usual the image is technically perfect, i loved the details of the plumage and the composition,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hello Mario

I will say it again,seen through your lens these birds are beautiful.
The plumage detail is wonderful with amazing colours.
Excellent sharpness and focus,superb details.
The POV and DOF are well done.
TFS

Wolf

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-11-19 13:45]

Hi Mario,
other than the tail being hidden behind the wood (which you couldn't have helped), this is PERFECT!!!
The colours are incredible.
Very sharp and extremely detailed.
Superb composition.
Brilliant DOF.

Exceptional work!

Cheers!!
Joe

Bonjour Mario,

La prise de vue rapprochée permet de voir avec précision les détails et les couleurs de l'étourneau sansonnet. Le sujet est bien cadré. La bonne luminosité rehausse les couleurs. Bonne journée

Pierre

Hello Mario,

Excellent work.
Beautiful colours with great definition.
Light,focus and sharpness are fantastic.
Good composition.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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