A rather strange and unique Starling

[JasperWest]

Recently my friend cut down a tree and inside the tree was a nest of Starling chicks. He kept them but they all died but 1 and it is now fully grown and doing really well.

Well in the past few week2 it's began to say it's same (Buddy) mimic small bits of different songs (Coldplays- Viva La Vida, System of a Downs-Chop Suey, and a few songs from various video games)

He can also mimic his dog, cat, sugar gliders, and like 5 different whistles.

I know Parrots can mimic MANY different sounds but I've never heard of a Starling being able to mimic at all.

We went to a local pet shop and asked a few of the people there if they had ever heard about it and they didn't believe us. So we went and got the bird and showed them "He said "You're a good buddy" and the bird just said "Buddy" and they were shocked. Then it did a wold whistle.

I don't know if any of you had ever heard about a Starling being able to mimic sounds, words, and songs.

Also it does some other really interesting things.

Like if we're not paying attention to it it will scoop up water in it's beak and throw it at us. And when you look at it it gets really excited and starts singing..but the second you look away it starts throwing water again. It's trying to get your attention.

And when it sleeps it lands on it's swing perch and swings it's self all night long...tis a weird little bird.

[MicahEspudo]

Thats very interesting... I would love to see a video

[Monica]

Actually, I knew that! Just go to Youtube and search for talking starlings! Damar and Weewoo seem to be the most popular!

Starlings, as well as Mynahs, can be excellent mimickers! And have a very clear voice! But, they also *LOVE* to get into trouble! Heck, I think they like trouble more than a parrot does!

Would love to see a video of Buddy! And what is Buddy's diet???

[jimpierce7]

that sounds way cool.

[JasperWest]

I'm not sure exactly what the died is but I know they give him fruit, Starling food that they buy off the web and tried meel worms mixed with dried fruit for protein..since he won't eat them when they're alive.

[pippy]

Starlings are well known for being great mimics!

British Garden Birds - Starling

Don't know if the Starlings in the US are the same as those we have in the UK?? I assume so though.

[Halo]

Oh wow that's so cool!! I didn't know that!!

[Monica]

Yep, we got European Starlings!

Mealworms are great for treats if kept in a poultry mash stuff... but only as treats, as they should be getting enough protein from the diet.

I'm curious about the stuff bought off the internet for the starling...
Adult, injured, or pet Starling Diet

[guest1717171]

wow they sound a lot like budgies lol

[Willow]

Oh yes! Starlings are known to be better talkers than most parrots. Here is a website: Starling Talk: The Care and Feeding of Injured and Orphaned Starlings