European Starling in South Africa? (1 Viewer)

[xyz99]

This looks like an Europenan Starling, did they reach South Africa, too?

 

[bfoutch]

According to Sinclair and Hockey's, The Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa, the Common (European) Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a "common to abundant introduced resident."

 

[xyz99]

Thanks - they are extremely abundant here in NJ, too

 

[AllanM]

Thanks - they are extremely abundant here in NJ, too

We'll swap you the Starling for the grey squirrel :t:

 

[MTem]

We'll swap you the Starling for the grey squirrel :t:

Seconded.

 

[chris butterworth]

Yes, Common Starling are found in South Africa. They've also been introduced to North America, the southern cone of South America, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.

p.s. Can I make a plea for North Americans to use "CommonStarling" as opposed to "European" as their native breeding range is as far east as Lake Baikal and they regularly winter in Japan and North Africa.

 

[Microtus]

p.s. Can I make a plea for North Americans to use "CommonStarling" as opposed to "European" as their native breeding range is as far east as Lake Baikal and they regularly winter in Japan and North Africa.

The AOU calls it European Starling, as do all English-language North American field guides.

 

[Jim M.]

Yes, Common Starling are found in South Africa. They've also been introduced to North America, the southern cone of South America, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.

p.s. Can I make a plea for North Americans to use "CommonStarling" as opposed to "European" as their native breeding range is as far east as Lake Baikal and they regularly winter in Japan and North Africa.

That would seem to equally be an argument for calling it “Eurasian Starling,” rather than “European Starling.” AOU/Clements do use, e.g., “Eurasian Wren.” I presume they opted for European Starling on the grounds that they do not breed in much of Asia, and many other starlings are more prevalent there. In any event, a geographical qualifier would seem useful for such a widely introduced bird. A constant reminder in areas where it has been introduced that it is not native--and of the risks of introducing non-native species.

 

[bfoutch]

We'll swap you the Starling for the grey squirrel :t:

Are you sure you really want to do that trade?

 

[Andy Hurley]

That would seem to equally be an argument for calling it “Eurasian Starling,” rather than “European Starling.” AOU/Clements do use, e.g., “Eurasian Wren.” I presume they opted for European Starling on the grounds that they do not breed in much of Asia, and many other starlings are more prevalent there. In any event, a geographical qualifier would seem useful for such a widely introduced bird. A constant reminder in areas where it has been introduced that it is not native--and of the risks of introducing non-native species.

We don't need to be reminded of our ancestors' folly, although it has been shown to continue far later than the introduction of the Common Starling to far flung shores. If you look at the sort of species introduced to Australia and New Zealand to combat rodents, there are enough horror stories for all to see.
But the Common starling does breed all over the world, introduced or native, so Common seems more fitting than either European or Eurasian. Or do you think they will be irradicated in non Eurasian areas anytime soon?

 

[Jim M.]

We don't need to be reminded of our ancestors' folly

I was thinking of birders and others in places where they are introduced. They are ubiquitous in most of No. Am., so birders and non-birders will assume they are native birds unless specifically informed they are not. A name with "European" does just that. If you folks on the other side of the pond want to refer to them as "Common Starling" it doesn't bother me at all, but "European Starling" is more appropriate here.

 

[chris butterworth]

I ( almost ) agree that a better qualifier would be "Eurasian", or even "Northern" but "European" is as wrong as "Canada" for the Goose ( unless there has been an almighty secession that I've missed hearing about ). [thought I'd better put 3 winky emoji in - just in case.]

The AOU calls it European Starling, as do all English-language North American field guides.

It's a Palearctic species, in southern Africa. A bit outside the remit of the AOU.

 

[Andy Hurley]

Fair enough Jim. Do you refer to your fellow Americans of European descent as European Americans?

 

[Nutcracker]

Didn't AOU have a proposal to make a formal change to Common Starling a year or so ago?

 

[MTem]

Are you sure you really want to do that trade?

Either you got the wrong end of this particular stick, or I don't understand.

We'll happily take our starlings (Common, Northern, European, Eurasian or whatever) back if you'll have all those blasted squirrels (grey), and their power outages.

Mick

 

[AllanM]

Are you sure you really want to do that trade?

Yep! you can have 'em back tomorrow and we'll have our starlings back!

Note: Just seen your post Mick, I was confused too!

 

[chris butterworth]

Love the way we, on BF, stay on thread. :-O

 

[AllanM]

Well we need a little light relief every now and then

 

[bfoutch]

Either you got the wrong end of this particular stick, or I don't understand.

We'll happily take our starlings (Common, Northern, European, Eurasian or whatever) back if you'll have all those blasted squirrels (grey), and their power outages.

Mick

Yep. Got it the wrong way around. My apologies. Hadn't realized we had given you those furry little terrorists. However, they are edible.

As the saying goes:
"Two countries separated by a common language."