Starlings roost in large flocks, flying to outlying or sheltered areas as far as 10 miles away to join a noisy throng for the night. When they are ready to nest, they are secondary cavity dwellers. Pairs take over holes in trees excavated by other bird species, as well as niches in building walls, rocks and other natural crevices. They are notorious for taking over a birdhouse or nesting house already claimed by other birds such as house sparrows. Since they need an entry hole larger than 1½ inches in diameter, sparrows can enter the birdhouse also, so fierce competition often takes place. Starlings prefer nest sites 15 to 40 feet from the ground
Starling parents build nests together from grasses, weed stems, twigs, corn husks, leaves, cloth, feathers, and debris. They begin families in the South from late March through July, laying eggs increasingly later in more northern regions until the end of July. Both parents participate in incubating 4 or 5 eggs for 12 days and raising the young. Although they may have two broods a season, they do not mate for more than one year, however.
