Starlings are common and highly adaptable birds found in various environments. These birds are omnivores, meaning their diet consists of both plant and animal matter. Their opportunistic feeding habits allow them to adjust their diet based on what is readily available.
Primary Food Sources
Starlings primarily consume insects. They frequently forage for invertebrates such as grubs, caterpillars, beetles, and earthworms by probing into lawns and soil. About 58% of an adult starling’s diet is typically made up of invertebrates, with larvae being a preferred food source for both adults and young birds.
Beyond insects, starlings also enjoy a variety of fruits and berries. They eat wild and cultivated options like cherries, elderberries, mulberries, apples, and grapes. These provide important nutrients and an energy boost due to their fructose content.
Seeds and grains become more significant components of their diet. Starlings consume grains from agricultural fields and various weed seeds. While they can eat a wide range of seeds, they avoid hard-shelled seeds like peanuts in the shell, thistle, safflower, and nyjer due to their softer bills.
Seasonal Dietary Shifts
The starling’s diet changes throughout the year, adapting to seasonal food availability. In spring and summer, their diet heavily focuses on protein-rich insects and other invertebrates. This insect-heavy diet is particularly important for breeding adults and for feeding their young, as the high protein content supports rapid growth.
As autumn approaches and transitions into winter, insects become scarcer. Starlings then shift their diet to include more fruits, berries, seeds, and grains. Their digestive systems even adapt, with their intestines lengthening to better process the increased plant material. This allows them to survive challenging colder conditions.
Foraging Habits and Adaptability
Starlings employ several methods to find their food, primarily foraging on the ground in open areas. They frequently probe their beaks into soil and turf, often using a technique called “bill gaping” or “prying” where they open their beaks to enlarge a hole and uncover hidden prey. They also walk on the ground to pick up food items from the surface.
These birds are opportunistic feeders, readily adapting to human environments. They scavenge for food scraps at picnic areas and landfills. Starlings also visit bird feeders, where they may consume suet, soft-bodied mealworms, and various seed mixes. Their tendency to feed quickly in large flocks can lead to them rapidly clearing out feeders.
Starlings demonstrate dietary flexibility, allowing them to thrive in diverse environments. In urban settings, their diet often includes more anthropogenic food sources, such as human food waste. They can switch back to naturally available foods during periods when human-provided resources are less abundant.