Often animal species fulfill specific
ecological needs within their given range. They perform a task that is required
to sustain the delicate balance of nature between food producers/consumers and
predators/prey. Birds such as starlings are active insect consumers which help
to control the populations of the insects they consume. In western China , a
species of starling, the Common Starling, performs the task of controlling the
insect population in open habitats such as fields and farmland. In Eastern China , this task is taken over by another member
of the family, the White-cheeked Starling.
The White-cheeked Starling is named for the
white spot on the side of its face, or “cheek”. Males and females are similar
in appearance, while the female of the species possesses duller plumage.
The breeding range of this species includes
Northeast China, Korea and Japan and parts of Siberia .
In wild areas, it is an adaptable bird which can live in woodland and open
country. Its adaptable nature makes it an ideal city-dweller where it can find
parks and gardens. It is often seen in city parks along the East Coast of China
in the company of Yellow-billed Grosbeaks with which it forms loose feeding
flocks in winter.
This species is an omnivore, like other
starlings. It eats a wide variety of plant and animal matter, but it is
especially fond of fruit and crickets.
Like other starling species, this bird is a
hole nester which builds a nest in a cavity in a tree. Often it can use holes
that once served as nesting places for woodpeckers that have since been
abandoned.
A noisy and gregarious bird, the
White-cheeked Starling’s conspicuous behavior has garnered it attention from
birders and non-birders alike. The pop culture sensation, “Pokemon,” features a
character called, “Starly” which is based entirely on this species.
White-cheeked
Starling (Photo by Brian Westland)
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