Differences between Chickadee and Starling

Chickadee and Starling are two classes of birds that belong to the Paridae and Sturnidae families respectively.

Chickadee is a group of North American songbirds that symbolizes energy and courage. The name is analogous to the bird’s call notes that is usually used to send out alarms. It is interesting that the number of times ‘dee’ is called out is based on the type of predator. Chickadees are capable of producing 13 types of complex vocalizations. Chickadees are small birds with a round head and long tail. Their crown, forehead, and neck are deep black in color. The cheeks and belly are pure white, while the back is grey. The wings and tail are streaks of white and black. The eyes of Chickadees are brown. Their bill is short, slightly curved, and black. Chickadee is an inquisitive bird and quick in spotting preys and feeders. It is especially known for its exemplary memory. The bird conceals about 80,000 seeds in different places during the summer and reclaims them efficiently in the winter. Chickadees are also capable of identifying and remembering every aspect of their environment.

Starlings are resplendent song birds that are short and stout. There are about 110 species of Starlings across the globe. The birds have short tails and flat wings. Their bills are slender, pointed, and yellow. They are fierce, aggressive, greedy, and smart birds. The plumage of these birds is a sparkling purple green during summers, while they turn brown with white spots in winters. The feet are strong and bright orange or brown in color. Starlings are known as noisy birds. They can produce a plethora of sounds, like chirping, chattering, whistling, and rattling. Further, they can imitate the calls of other birds, human voices and words, mobile ringtones, car honks, and several other sounds.

Where are Chickadee and Starling found?

Chickadees generally live in dense forests and coniferous regions. However, they can also be found in open grasslands and open woods near waterbeds. They have also adapted themselves to live in parks and gardens in cities. They are regular visitors at backyards. Chickadees are native to North America. They exist there in huge population. There are seven Chickadee species in the continent. Some of them are Mountain Chickadee, Boreal Chickadee, Mexican Chickadee, and Black-capped Chickadee. Similar birds exist in Asia, Africa, and Europe. However, only the North American group of birds are known as Chickadees. The other identical birds are mostly known as tits.

Starlings are commonly seen in agricultural lands, parks, gardens, grasslands, and cities. The bird is native to Europe and Asia. Having been introduced to other parts of the world, they can also be found in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, North America, Canada, and Caribbean Islands.

What do Chickadee and Starling eat?

Chickadees are omnivores. They mostly eat insects, snails, spiders, worms, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and ants besides berries, seeds, and fruits. Occasionally the birds also eat small invertebrates and carrion.

Starlings are omnivores. They forage mainly on the ground. So, they chiefly eat larvae, worms, insects, beetles, grasshoppers, snails, seeds, nuts, and fruits.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Chickadee and Starling

• Neither Chickadee nor Starling eat Fish.
• Chickadee do not eat Frogs while Starling eat Frogs.
• Both Chickadee and Starling eat Lizards.
• Both Chickadee and Starling eat Snakes.
• Neither Chickadee nor Starling eat Turtles.
• Neither Chickadee nor Starling eat Squirrels.
• Chickadee and Starling do not eat Gophers.
• Both Chickadee and Starling do not eat Baby Ducks.
• Mice are not eaten by both Chickadee and Starling.

Size of Chickadee and Starling?

When it comes to size, Chickadees are small birds. They are 2.4-5.5 inches long and have a wingspan of six to eight inches.. Starlings are tiny birds. They are about seven to nine inches long with a wingspan of 12-17 inches. Nias Hill Myna is the largest in the family with a length of nearly 14 inches.

The weight of Chickadees depends on the species. The average weight is 0.29-0.39 ounces. while Starlings weigh about 2.04-3.5 ounces. Nias Hill Myna weighs the heaviest among all Starling species at 14 ounces.

Where do Chickadee and Starling nest?

Chickadees generally build their nests in wooded areas, four to 15 feet above the ground. They prefer tree holes and cavities. They also use boxes and birdhouses. Sometimes, the male and female partners dig cavities in the trees. The female bird chooses the nesting site and constructs the nest. The nest of Chickadees is shaped like a cup and made of twigs, leaves, and other material on the outer. It is lined with soft material like moss, rabbit fur, and feathers on the inside. Chickadee eggs are pinkish white with dark speckles. The female incubates them for 12-13 days during which time she is fed by her partner. After the eggs hatch, both partners share the duties of feeding and protecting the young ones. The chicks fledge when they are about 16 days old.

Starlings make their nests in scattered colonies. The nests, made of grass and twigs, are mostly built in holes and cavities of trees and buildings. They are usually located 10 to 30 feet above the ground. The eggs are oval and a soft green or blue in color. The female bird largely incubates the eggs for about 12 days. The chicks get fed by both parents in the nest for three weeks, after which they fledge.

How long do Chickadee and Starling live?

The average lifespan of Chickadees in the wild is three to seven years. Most nestlings face threat of being eaten by hawks, owls, and other mammals that climb trees. The longest known lived Chickadee was 11 years and five months old.

The average lifespan of Starlings is two to five years in the wild. They live longer in captivity. The wild birds roost in groups and migrate in winters to extend their lifespan. The life expectancy of Starlings is affected by high mortality of baby birds, scarcity of food, hunting, and predator attacks. The oldest lived starling was nearly 23 years old. It was found in the wild in Denmark.

Are Chickadee or Starling migratory birds?

Chickadees are typically non-migratory. They reside in their territories throughout the year. While adult birds always stay put by huddling together in small flocks during winters, the young ones may travel long distances when population at their territories increases after breeding. However, this cannot be termed as migration. Winters are managed without migration as Chickadees have special adaptations. They have dense plumes that help them maintain body temperature during the day. At nights, they roost in flocks. The birds also stay active to keep themselves warm. Further, Chickadees store seeds and grains in summers so they don’t run out of food during winters.

Migration of Starlings depends on their geography. The ones living high up in the northern hemisphere move southward during winters. In the UK, they relocate from the west coast to the east coast. The birds from North America and Canada usually move to the USA. The Asian species travel from northeastern regions towards the south and west. Some species also stop over in the Middle East and North Africa.

Do Chickadee and Starling fly in flocks?

A flock of Chickadees is called banditry. These birds are extremely gregarious. They are friendly with birds of their own species as well as other birds. They use special calls to interact with their flocks. The birds also follow a complex social hierarchy. Chickadees mostly live in pairs during the breeding season. In other times, they live in small flocks of four to 12 birds. In winters they roost in flocks to maintain body temperature.

A flock of Starlings is called murmuration. The birds are extremely gregarious and live in large flocks comprising of several hundreds to thousands of birds. Flocking helps the birds to stay safe from predators and keep themselves warm at night. It also gives them an opportunity to communicate with each other about sources of food.

Are Chickadee or Starling protected?

Chickadees are protected under the law in North America. According to the law, it is illegal to hunt, harm, trap or transport the birds or their nests.

Starlings are not protected in major parts of the world. Only a few countries like the UK and Canada have laws prohibiting harming and hunting of the birds. Starlings are largely considered as pests because they destroy crops like grapes, strawberries, apples, and figs besides many other fruits and seeds. They also consume water and feed kept for livestock, while contaminating the feed with their droppings. To save their crops and livestock from the nuisance, farmers kill Starlings by shooting and poisoning them.

Are Chickadee or Starling endangered?

Chickadees are neither threatened nor endangered. They exist in booming numbers. However, their population is expected to get scattered and their habitats are likely to get distributed owing to global warming and climate change.

Starlings are not endangered birds. However, their population is falling drastically in several parts of the world, especially the UK.

Can Chickadee and Starling fly?

In flight, the wings and tail of Chickadees are spread out. The birds move up and down while flying and usually do not fly in a straight line. They flap their wings vigorously in short intervals. The maximum flying speed of Chickadees is 12 miles per hour. Chickadees either fly alone or in flocks that may also include other species of birds. They are capable of performing acrobatics while hanging on to trees or bird feeders.

The flight of the Starling murmuration is a sight to behold. The birds fly in massive groups that could even consist of over 10,000 birds. The swarm could include other Starling species and other bird species as well. Starlings fly in different patterns to maintain fluid formation. As the birds swoop and swirl, the shift in pattern is seamless, synchronous, and swift. The avian behavior is a result of extreme coordination. Each bird always aligns itself to the immediate seven birds around it. The murmuration is intended to keep the flock safe and intimidate the predators with the enormity. It also helps the birds to conserve energy during long flights. Starlings are known to be able to fly at speeds of 37-50 miles an hour. During migration, they travel up to 620-930 miles in a day.

Can Chickadee and Starling swim?

Chickadees are small birds with feet adapted for perching. Therefore, they cannot swim. But the birds visit shallow waters for drinking and bathing. They are also capable of bathing in cold icy waters during winters.

Starlings are not regular swimmers although they can manage to swim. They regularly bathe in water to keep their plumage clean and reduce body temperature in summers.

Mating patterns among Chickadee and Starling

Chickadees attain sexual maturity when they are six to eight months old. Soon after winter, the flocks start disintegrating and the birds will become more territorial. There is no particular mating ritual that Chickadees follow. The male Chickadees become aggressive to defend their territories. Some of them also feed their partners. The male and female engage in singing and fluttering of wings during courtship. The female recites ‘dee’ multiple times to keep her partner undistracted. At the same time, she is observant of the singing competitions between her partner and other males. Chickadees generally raise only one brood each year. The clutch could have one to 13 eggs depending on the species. The female lays one egg per day. Older females lay the maximum number of eggs. The female bird incubates the eggs and also protects them from predators. She is supported by her partner after hatching to tend to the young ones.

At the onset of the breeding season, the male Starling birds find a nesting location and prepare the base of the nest using grass and leaves. He then perches at the nesting site, singing and waving with his wings to attract the female. The male and female are said to have paired when they partner to complete the construction of the nest and carry out other activities together. The partners raise one to two broods each year. Each clutch typically consists of three to six eggs.

When is the mating season for Chickadee and Starling ?

The mating season for Chickadees occurs during April-June. The birds start pairing in the beginning of April and by the start of May they start building their nests.

The mating season for Starlings depends on the geography. Typically, it is during April-June. Starlings could make breeding attempts more than once a year.

Do Chickadee and Starling mate for life?

Chickadees are usually monogamous. Their relationships last for several years or for life. In some cases, the female may dissociate from her partner if she finds another mate from a higher status in the hierarchy.

Starlings are monogamous during each breeding season. Nevertheless, the male could look for a mate when his partner is incubating the eggs. Female birds who have not mated during the season could be aggressive towards those who are mating the second time.

How do Chickadee and Starling sleep?

Chickadees sleep in tree holes, bird boxes, or ledges of buildings. They prefer to sleep alone except in winters when they huddle together with their flock. During winters, the birds eat plenty of seeds and insects to endure the long cold nights when they will not be able to venture out for foraging.

Starlings choose roosting sites that are safe from predators and shielded from harsh weather. They tend to sleep more during winters. They sleep for less than five hours in summers and around three hours on full moon nights. When the flocks gather at roosting sites, they perform avian stunts and spend time in communication before resting for the night.

Can Chickadee and Starling be eaten?

There have been instances of people eating the meat of Chickadees in the past. However, harming and hunting of these birds is illegal under modern laws.

Starlings are widely consumed by people. Their meat is cooked in different ways. They are a regular meal in countries like France. Killing the birds for meat is allowed in several nations.

Can you hunt Chickadee or Starling?

Chickadees may have been hunted in the past for their meat. However, modern laws do not permit hunting, harming, or trapping of the birds.

Starlings are not protected in most countries. They are hunted for sport and meat. They are also hunted and killed for the destruction they cause to agricultural lands and livestock.

Can you feed Chickadee or Starling?

Chickadees have never been domesticated by humans. They are nevertheless offered food at bird feeders. People usually give them sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet blends.

Starlings eat worms, berries, and fruits. At agricultural lands and livestock farms, people often have feeding stations for Starlings to prevent them from attacking crops and the feeds reserved for livestock. The birds are fed with peanuts, sunflower seeds, mealworms, egg powder, and leafy greens.