European starlings are aggressive birds with a rich history. (photo by Bill Hobbs)
Published February 17. 2021 7:49AM
Bill Hobbs, Special to The Times
The European starling may not rank high on anybody’s popularity list, but this aggressive bird, who was once a favorite among 18th century royalty, wins high marks for its intelligence.
The male starling, for example, is known to adorn nest sites with flowers to woo a mate. And nesting pairs of starlings have been observed tucking fresh herbs into their nest, presumably to ward off insect pests.
Starlings are also well-known for mimicking birds and humans, making them once a popular pet among the European royalty. In fact, Mozart kept a starling in a cage for several years, enjoying the bird’s musical chortles and chirps.