The European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a widespread bird across North America and Europe. The question of whether starlings fly south for the winter does not have a simple answer, as this species exhibits partial migration. Within the same population, some individuals undertake long-distance journeys while others remain resident year-round. The decision to migrate depends heavily on the bird’s geographic location and environmental conditions.
Understanding Partial Migration
Partial migration occurs when a portion of an animal population migrates while the rest remain sedentary residents. For starlings, this adaptable strategy allows them to exploit resources in northern breeding areas during summer while avoiding the harshest winter conditions. Populations living in the northern limits of the starling’s range, such as in Canada, the northern United States, and Scandinavia, are the most likely to migrate.
Starlings in moderate climates, particularly the southern US or temperate Europe, often remain year-round residents. Urban environments also support more resident starlings, as city heat islands and readily available food sources mitigate the need for migration. The dividing line for this behavior in North America generally occurs around the 40th parallel, roughly the latitude of New York City.
Why Starlings Migrate and Where They Go
The primary triggers for starling migration are the scarcity of food and the onset of colder weather. As temperatures drop and the ground freezes, the starling’s preferred food source—invertebrates and soil insects—becomes inaccessible, prompting a search for reliable winter foraging areas. Shorter daylight hours also signal the birds, limiting the time available to find and consume necessary calories.
Starling migratory distances vary significantly between continents. In Europe, populations from colder regions like Eastern Europe and Russia undertake extensive journeys, sometimes traveling over 1,250 miles. They reach warmer wintering grounds in Western Europe, the Mediterranean region, or even North Africa.
North American starlings generally complete shorter, regional movements, mostly heading toward the central and southern United States. They often follow topographical features like river valleys or coastal plains, with some birds reaching northern Mexico or the Lesser Antilles. Fall migration begins in late summer, and the return journey north typically occurs between mid-February and the end of March.
Winter Survival Tactics for Resident Starlings
Starlings that remain resident during the winter employ specialized behaviors to cope with cold temperatures and limited resources. Their diet shifts dramatically from being primarily insectivorous to relying on high-energy plant matter. Resident birds consume seeds, berries, and waste grain found in agricultural fields and urban areas, which are more readily available than insects during winter.
To conserve energy, starlings engage in communal roosting, gathering in massive groups at dusk in sheltered locations like dense trees, reedbeds, or man-made structures. Huddling together allows the birds to share body heat, with densities sometimes reaching up to 500 birds per cubic meter. They also fluff their feathers, creating an insulating layer by trapping warm air close to their bodies.
Before settling into their communal roosts, starlings form spectacular, synchronized aerial displays known as murmurations. These massive, swirling flocks serve a practical survival function. The sheer number of birds and their rapid, coordinated movements confuse and deter predators, such as the peregrine falcon. Scientists also hypothesize that these pre-roosting gatherings allow starlings to share information about the most productive foraging sites discovered during the day.