Non-native birds... Several species were introduced in the 1890 in Central Park in New York City by a man trying to establish all species mentioned by Shakespear in his works. The European Starling is one of those species. Many people may not realize that pigeons and house sparrows also are not native.
In the past few decades the exotic bird trade has contributed numerous species, particularly in Florida and California where they are mainly raised and where the weather allows their survival. Some of these are a result of escapes, others are intentional released by owners disenchanted with their noisy companions.
Description:This is a small, stocky parrot with a green body and a gray face and throat. This species is commonly kept as a pet. They tend to be quite vocal and often owners tire of the noise and release them.
Life History:This species forms colonies where many pairs nest together in a single structure. Another unusual feature is that most other parrot species are cavity nesters, monk parakeets build stick nests.
Distribution:Monk parakeets have colonies in 13 states, ranging from Florida and Texas to Oregon and New York.
Description:The domesticated Ringed Turtle-Dove is similar to the Eurasian Collared-Dove, and it frequently escapes or is released from captivity. The occurrence of the first Eurasian Collared-Doves in the United States went unnoticed for quite a while because of confusion with feral Ringed Turtle-Doves. The two species occasionally hybridize in wild populations.
Similar Species: Mourning Dove has pointed tail with white outer tail feathers, and a spot, not a collar on its neck.
Domesticated Ringed Turtle-Dove similar, but has white undertail coverts, no black on underside of tail feathers, and is paler.
White-winged Dove has large white patch in wing, a black band above the white tail tip, and has a teardrop-shaped spot on face.
Introduced Spotted Dove is darker, and has a broad collar of black and white spots on back of neck.
Distribution:Native to India , Sri Lanka and Myanmar, it migrated to Europe in the 17th & 18th centuries and continues to spread its range. Introduced to Florida in the late 1970's and now occurs from Florida to Texas and spreading. California sightings continue to grow.
The Eurasian Collared-Dove is often kept as a pet. The occurrence of the species in some areas of the United States can be traced not to the dispersal of wild breeders, but to escaped or released cage birds.
Status:Populations increasing and spreading. May become an agricultural pest where it eats and fouls grain.
Species Spotlight
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Red-whiskered bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus
Description:Upperparts brown, darker on wings and tail; underparts grayish-white; an incomplete dark brown band on upper breast forms an interrupted collar. Black crest sharply pointed; white lower cheeks outlined with black. A tuft of glossy, hair-like crimson feathers behind eyes forms "whiskers." Tail tipped white, except for central pair of rectrices; under tail-coverts crimson.
Habitat:Lightly wooded areas, more open country with bushes and shrubs, and farmland.
Distribution:Native to southern Asia (from India and southeast China to northern Malaya), but have been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are established in southern California, southern Florida and Hawaii.
Description:Stocky, black bird; short, square-tipped tail; pointed, triangular wings; long pointed bill, yellow in breeding season; shimmering green and purple feathers in spring; 20-23 cm (8-9 in) in size.
Habitat:Starlings are associated with man-altered environments, foraging in open country on short, mown, or grazed grassland while avoiding woodlands, arid chaparral, and deserts.
Distribution:Native to northern half of Eurasia.
Introduced into North America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, and some of the West Indies.
Resident from eastern Alaska to Newfoundland and throughout the United States into northern Mexico. Winters throughout breeding range, but also southward into central Mexico and the Caribbean.
About 100 European Starlings were introduced into Central Park in New York City as one society's attempt to introduced all the birds named in Shakespeare.
