International Journal of Agricultural
Science and Research (IJASR)
ISSN(P): 2250-0057; ISSN(E): 2321-0087
Vol. 4, Issue 3, Jun 2014, 45-56
© TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.
WHAT DOES THE EUROPEAN STARLING EAT (STURNUS VULGARIS) IN ALGERIA,
REGION OF ITS WINTERING AREA?
HASSIBA BERRAÏ & SALAHEDDINE DOUMANDJI
National School of Agronomy, El Harrach, Algiers, Algeria
ABSTRACT
In the region that includes the Mitidja plain and Great Kabylie, the European starling is considered a major pest of
the olive tree especially the cultivated one. It is a question of specifying the trophic components of this species in Mitidja
which belongs to its wintering area. In the Starling’s food menu, the vegetal part is mainly not olives, but dominated by
Pistachio-mastic fruits. As for the animal part, far more important than the vegetal part, is mainly insects Coleoptera and
Hymenoptera. A better understanding of the diet of this Sturnidae will improve the methods to fight against it. The analysis
of the stomach contents of starling captured and sacrificed explain the proportions of vegetal and animal trophic
components.
KEYWORDS: European Starling, Food Intake, Wintering Area, Algeria
INTRODUCTION
The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) or ''Azerzour'' as it is designated in Berber in the Maghreb where it
comes to hibernate, is considered as the main bird pest of the olive in Algeria (Gramet 1978) “Figure 1”. We must
remember that in some countries of northern Europe farmers consider the European starling as an auxiliary and even install
nest boxes for it to promote its reproduction. The qualification of this avian species as harmful or useful is of great
complexity. This study seeks to complement previous work particularly with regard to diet and the aim is to refute or
confirm the observations made by different researchers among others on its trophic bioecology and the relative importance
of insect prey and vegetal intake.
Figure 1: Original Photography of Sturnus vulgaris in his Wintering Area
METHODS
It is the eastern part of the Mitidja which holds the attention in this work (36°32' to 36°49'N., 3°03' to 3°25'E.)
(I.N.C.T. 2004). The eastern part of the Mitidja, one of the most fertile plains in Algeria, and well watered, is used by
locals for various crops, such as citrus, apple, medlar, vineyards, vegetables and cereals (Wojterski 1985).
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Hassiba Berraï & Salaheddine Doumandji
According Loucif-Seiad (2002) and Imache et al. (2007), Mitidja has significant hydro-agricultural potential. The climate
is Mediterranean, the Mitidja characterized by alternating mild or cool and wet winters and hot, dry summers (Seltzer
1946).
The field trips were conducted between November 2006 and March 2007 for capturing starlings at the cemetery of
El Alia (36°42'N., 3°09'E.) And two plots left lying fallow located in Larbâa one (36°33'N.; 3°09'E.) and the other in
Rouiba (36°44'N.; 3°17'E.). The analysis focused on 50 digestive tracts recovered after sacrifice and dissection of starlings
captured. The contents of the digestive tracts are recovered individually in Petri dishes to determine prey species and plants
ingested and to quantify them. Determinations are carried out at the Laboratory of Zoology Agricultural of the National
School of Agronomy El-Harrach.
The exploitation of the results is made with ecological indices such as relative abundance, Shannon-Weaver
diversity and equidistribution and statistical techniques. The relative abundance (RA %) expressed as a percentage by the
formula RA % = n/N × 100 where n is the total number of individuals of a species i considered and N is the total number of
individuals of all species (Faurie et al. 1984). In this case n is the number of species recorded in the stomach contents while
N represents all invertebrates found in the stomach contents.
The diversity index of Shannon-Weaver is considered as the best way to reflect the diversity expressed by the
formula H’(bits) = - ∑ (ni/N) Log2(ni/N) where ni is the number of individuals of species i and N is the total number of
individuals of all species (Blondel et al. 1973). According to Weesie and Belemsobgo (1997), the equal distribution is the
ratio E = H '/ H'max. where H’ is the diversity index of Shannon-Weaver, H 'max. maximum diversity is given by
H' max. = log2 S and S is total wealth expressed in number of species. According to De Falguerolles and Van Der Heijden
(1987) Factorial Correspondence Analysis (FCA) is an extension of the methods of analysis of contingency tables with
multiple dimensions. In this study, the use of AFC can highlight the differences between prey species found in the
starling’s diet according to the stations and the months. The analysis of the variance in a criterion of classification or in a
factor, aims to compare the averages of several populations assumed normal and the same variance from random samples,
simple and independent of each other (Rice 1989).
RESULTS
The content analysis of the digestive tract of Sturnus vulgaris shows that the animal species are 5 times more than
the ingested plant species “Table 1”. The total number of species consumed by European starling is 157 represented by
1123 individuals. Between the three stations in the eastern part of the Mitidja, the number of species observed and ingested
varies between 64 in El Alia and 138 in Larbaâ. Among the most requested food plants Pistacia lentiscus (Anacardiaceae)
comes first with 111 fruits. It is followed by 49 olives (Olea europaea, Oleaceae) then by Ficus sp. (Moraceae) with 11
elements and Triticum sp. (Poaceae) with 2 elements only. The animal part ingested is especially Formicidae in which,
Tapinoma nigerrimum participates with 92 individuals and 84 individuals by Messor barbara on 1123 food intake.
Table 1: List of Plant and Animal Species Found in the Digestive Tracts of
Starling from Three Stations Catches (East-Mitidja)
Stations Catches
Number of Guts Examined
Classes
Orders
Families
Helicidae sp.
Gastropoda
Pulmonata
Helicellidae sp.
Impact Factor (JCC): 4.3594
Rouiba
10
Numbers
4
-
El Alia
10
Numbers
1
4
Larbaâ
30
Numbers
5
8
Total
10
12
Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0
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What Does the European Starling Eat (Sturnus vulgaris) in Algeria, Region of its Wintering Area?
Pseudoscorpionida
Arachnida
Ricinuleida
Aranea
Myriapoda
Crustacea
Chilopoda
Diplopoda
Isopoda
Blattoptera
Orthoptera
Dermaptera
Mallophaga
Heteroptera
Homoptera
Insecta
Coleoptera
Hymenoptera
Diptera
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Table 1: Contd.,
Pseudoscorpionida
f. ind.
Ricinuleida f.ind.
Aranea f. ind.
Dysderidae sp.
Chilopoda f.ind.
Himantariidae
Julidae
Oniscidae f. ind.
Blattoptera f. ind.
Ectobiidae sp.
Gryllidae sp.
Acrididae sp.
Dermaptera f. ind.
Anisolabidae
Labiduridae
Menoponidae
Heteroptera f.ind.
Pentatominae sp.
Reduviidae sp.
Lygaeidae sp.
Cydnidae
Pentatomidae
Aphidae sp.
Coleoptera f. ind.
Caraboidea sp.
Harpalidae sp.
Carabidae
Scaritidae sp.
Lebiidae sp.
Melolonthidae
Orphnidae
Aphodiidae
Scarabeidae sp.
Cetonidae
Tenebrionidae sp.
Phalacridae
Elateridae sp.
Mycetophagidae
Carpophilidae sp.
Chrysomelidae
Anthicidae
Staphylinidae sp.
Sylvanidae sp.
Histeridae
Coccinellidae sp.
ind.
Cerambycidae sp.
Curculionidae sp.
Ichneumonidae sp.
Halictidae sp. ind.
Apidae
Andrenidae
Formicidae sp.
Diptera f. ind.
-
-
2
2
4
1
3
4
2
1
6
3
4
3
1
2
2
1
4
1
3
4
1
1
2
5
6
3
1
9
4
11
2
5
1
2
2
1
7
3
3
2
4
1
1
1
2
1
3
2
1
1
6
1
8
6
1
8
3
6
1
5
3
2
7
1
16
10
2
2
2
4
2
4
3
2
2
2
5
3
4
2
4
2
5
10
4
6
10
16
6
3
33
3
9
3
4
15
3
8
4
4
11
5
2
7
1
16
20
9
7
3
10
7
12
3
1
2
6
4
9
5
5
7
7
5
9
15
1
5
14
16
5
9
4
48
3
14
3
4
34
8
19
5
7
2
1
4
7
2
20
1
119
1
1
32
57
-
81
5
4
1
2
162
2
3
133
5
5
1
2
338
3
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Hassiba Berraï & Salaheddine Doumandji
Cyclorrhapha sp.
Nematocera f.ind.
Poaceae
Moraceae
Oleaceae
Anacardiaceae
Plantae sp. ind.
Vegetable family
1
4
6
8
1
271
82
Total Numbers of Individus
Total Numbers of Species
2
2
2
3
25
2
207
64
2
1
5
48
78
2
645
138
5
1
2
11
57
111
5
1.123
157
Diet Composition According to Classes and Orders
The prey identified belong to 5 classes, Gastropoda, Arachnida, Myriapoda, Crustacea and Insecta. The class
which the individuals are the most sought after by Starling is the Insecta with 240 individuals near Rouiba (88.6%),
159 individuals in El Alia (77.2%) and 450 individuals near Larbaâ (69 8%) for a total of 849 insects among 1123 trophic
components “Figure 2”.
Figure 2: Distribution of Animal and Plant Species Consumed by European Starling
According to Taxonomic Classes in the Three Study Sites
The dominance of insects indicates a clear preference of Sturnus vulgaris for this class although it’s his
hibernating area. Insects listed in the trophic menu of the Starling during this study belong to 9 orders , Blattoptera,
Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Mallophaga, Heteroptera, Homoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera “Table 2”. The order
of the Insects the most represented in the diet of Sturnus vulgaris is the Coleoptera with 401 individuals (47.1%),
followed by Hymenoptera with 351 individuals (41.3%).
Table 2: Distribution of Species of Insecta Ingested by Sturnus vulgaris According to the Orders
Stations Catches
Numbers of the
Digestive Tract
Studied
Orders
Blattoptera
Orthoptera
Dermaptera
Mallophaga
Heteroptera
Homoptera
Coleoptera
Impact Factor (JCC): 4.3594
Rouiba
El Alia
Larbaâ
All of
Stations
10
10
30
50
n.
6
7
7
0
9
4
85
%
2,50
2,92
2,92
0,00
3,75
1,67
35,42
n.
6
0
6
1
4
1
81
%
3,80
0,00
3,80
0,63
2,53
0,63
51,27
n.
4
6
9
0
18
2
235
%
0,88
1,32
1,99
0,00
3,97
0,44
51,88
n.
16
13
22
1
31
7
401
%
1,88
1,53
2,59
0,12
3,64
0,82
47,12
Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0
49
What Does the European Starling Eat (Sturnus vulgaris) in Algeria, Region of its Wintering Area?
Table 2: Contd.,
Hymenoptera
120
50,00
57
36,08
174
38,41
Diptera
2
0,83
2
1,27
5
1,10
Total
240
100
158
100
453
100
n: Numbers of individuals consumed ; % : percentages of individuals
351
9
851
41,25
1,06
100
Monthly Composition of the Starling’s Trophic Menu
It is in February that 282 trophic components,” the highest number” are counted in the digestive tracts of starlings
captured in Larbaâ “Table 3”. This number is followed by 271 units of food observed in November near Rouiba and 224
individuals in March near Larbaâ. During the first half of the winter the trophic components consumption seems less, 207
individuals in December in El Alia and 139 individuals in January near Larbaâ. It is possible that Sturnus vulgaris is more
active in seeking its food in February in one hand to fight against the cold, and in the order to replenish its reserves for its
migration to Europe. After its arrival in North Africa, the starling starts reconstituting its reserves exhausted during its
journey towards its hibernation area.
Table 3: Numbers Plant Fragments and Animal Species Consumed by the Starling Counted per Month
Rouiba
(in 2006)
XI
Stations Catches
El Alia
Larbaâ (in 2007)
(in 2006)
XII
I
II
III
Months
Numbers of
the digestive
10
10
10
10
10
tract studied
271
207
139
282
224
n.
24,1
18,4
12,4
25,1
20
%
n: Numbers of individuals consumed; % : percentages of individuals
Relative Abundances of the Ingested Species and the Diversity of the Sturnus vulgaris Diet
In the Sturnus vulgaris digestive tracts the dominant species in November in Rouiba are Messor Barbara
(in swarming period), Tapinoma nigerrimum, Tetramorium biskrensis, Pheidole pallidula, Aphaenogaster testaceo-pilosa
and Pistacia lentiscus “Table 4”. December in El Alia, the dominant species are Pistacia lentiscus, Tapinoma nigerrimum,
Messor barbara, Rhyssemus sp., Aphaenogaster testaceo-pilosa, Otiorrhynchus sp. and Oniscidae sp. ind. Larbaâ in
January, the species that dominate are Pistacia lentiscus, Olea europaea and Tapinoma nigerrimum. In Larbaâ station in
February, the most common species in descending order are Pistacia lentiscus, Olea europaea, Messor barbara, Hypera
sp. 2, Hybalus sp. Lithoborus sp., Tapinoma nigerrimum, Hypera sp. 1, Oniscidae sp. ind., Rhyssemus sp., Iulus sp.,
Rhizotrogus sp. and Sitona sp. Finally, in March Larbaâ, it is Tapinoma nigerrimum, Messor barbara, Aphaenogaster
testaceo-pilosa, Pistacia lentiscus, Olea europaea and Iulus sp. appear to be the most important.
Table 4: Relative Abundance (RA %) of the Most Important Species Consumed by Starling
Stations Catches
Months
Iulus sp.
Oniscidae sp. ind.
Rhizotrogus sp.
Hybalus sp.
Rhyssemus sp.
Lithoborus sp.
Otiorrhynchus sp.
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Rouiba
XI
0
1,11
0,74
1,85
1,11
1,48
0,74
El Alia
XII
0
3,38
2,9
0,48
3,86
0
3,38
I
2,16
1,44
0
0
0,72
0
0
Larbaâ
II
2,48
2,84
2,13
3,55
2,84
3,55
0,71
III
2,68
0
0
0
2,23
0
0,89
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Hassiba Berraï & Salaheddine Doumandji
Table 4: Contd.,
Hypera sp. 1
1,48
1,45
Hypera sp. 2
0,74
1,93
Sitona sp.
0,74
0
Tetramorium biskrensis
5,54
0
Tapinoma nigerrimum
8,12
8,7
Messor Barbara
11,44
5,31
Aphaenogaster testaceo3,32
3,38
pilosa
Pheidole pallidula
4,43
2,9
Olea europaea
1,11
1,45
Pistacia lentiscus
2,95
12,08
AR %: Relative abundance; I, II, III: months.
0,72
0
0
0
7,91
3,6
3,19
4,26
2,13
1,06
3,55
4,61
0
0,45
0
0,89
13,84
10,71
1,44
1,06
4,46
0,72
15,11
28,78
0,71
4,96
9,93
0,89
3,57
4,46
The values of Shannon-Weaver diversity (H') calculated based on the number of different components of the
Starling’s trophic diet vary from one month to another and from one station to another. They fluctuate between 4.2 and
5.9 bits. The equitability (E) differs from one month to another during this study “Table 5”. However, it remains equal or
greater than 0.77. Of this fact the number of vegetal and animal species contained in the digestive tracts of starlings from
Rouiba, El Alia and Larbaâ tend to be balance between them.
Table 5: Values of Diversity Index of Species Ingested by Sturnus vulgaris in
Different Stations Catches in 2006 and 2007
Stations
Month
Numbers Guts
H’ Max.
N
S
H’ (Bits)
E
Catches
Catch
Dissected
(Bits)
Rouiba
XI (2006)
10
271
82
5,68
6,39
0,89
El Alia
XII (2006)
10
207
64
5,37
6,03
0,89
Larbaâ
I (2007)
10
139
42
4,18
5,42
0,77
Larbaâ
II (2007)
10
282
103
5,94
6,72
0,88
Larbaâ
III (2007)
10
224
83
5,57
6,40
0,87
N: numbers of individuals consumed; S: total wealth; H’: diversity index of Shannon-Weaver;
H’ max : maximum diversity; E : equitability index
Factorial Analysis of the Correspondences of the Species Consumed
In this study Larbaâ (LRB) participates in the axis 1construction with 46.6%, followed by El Alia (ELA) with
43.0%. Rouiba (RBA) occurs more slowly (10.4%). Then it is Rouiba (RBA) which occur more in the construction of axis
2 with 61.2%, followed by El Alia (ELA) with 34.9%. The spatial distribution of species involved in the supply of Sturnus
vulgaris in the factorial plan 1-2 highlights four groups, A, B, C and D. A includes the species omnipresent as Messor
barbara (140), Olea europaea (154) and Pistacia lentiscus (155). B includes trophic components found in the starlings
digestive tracts captured at Rouiba (RBA) in particular Chaetocnema sp.1 (094) and Chrysomela banksi (096). C combines
species recorded in the diet of starlings only mentioned in El Alia (ELA) as Menopon sp. (025) and Micrositus sp. (062).
D point cloud formed by the species found in the digestive tract of the starlings captured at Larbaâ (LRB) as Nala lividipes
(024), Harpalus fulvus (038) and Tropinota squalida (054).
Variance Analysis Applied to Ingested Species
The exploitation of the trophic components found in the Sturnus vulgaris diet captured in three stations in eastern
Mitidja, by a variance analysis shows that there is no significant difference between the three stations, knowing that F calc.
= 0.64 <F theo. = 3.68, p = 0.54).
Impact Factor (JCC): 4.3594
Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0
What Does the European Starling Eat (Sturnus vulgaris) in Algeria, Region of its Wintering Area?
51
DISCUSSIONS
In Northern Europe, the breeding of Sturnus vulgaris in a farm in Turkew Poland, Gromadzki (1969) found that
level out of 85 Starlings digestive tracts captured during the nesting period, the animal part portion ingested is 5 times
higher than the vegetal one. He counted about 71 species represented by 3,953 individuals. The number of species recorded
in this study is higher. This is explained by the fact that in its northern breeding area starlings is demanding in the choice of
prey back to the nest to feed its nestlings, while during the winter the food he ingests belong to a much larger range.
On average, the number of individuals consumed by digestive tract of the Starlings is higher in its breeding range
(46 individuals) as noted in its hibernating area (22 individuals). It must be highlighted that the work of both sides of the
Mediterranean includes two different areas in relation to the behavior of the starling. North is its breeding area, and south,
its wintering one.
On the banks Reghaïa’s Marsh in October 1988, Doumandji and Doumandji-Mitiche (1994) observe Sturnus
vulgaris currently ingest fruits of Pistacia lentiscus and Olea europaea. These same authors in 1996 noticed the Starling
rejecting many small cores oleaster (Olea europaea oleaster), large nuclei olive (Olea europaea europaea) and even seeds
Palmaceae such as Washingtonia filifera and W. robusta.
In one week starlings rejected or dropped on the ground under an olive tree isolated in the gardens of the National
Agronomique Institute El Harrach nearly 60,000 oleastre small nuclei. Similarly, Bortoli (1970) notes that in Tunisia the
whole olives swallowed occupy three-quarters of the starlings diet. It seems that the Sturnus vulgaris intake of fruit in
breeding area is less important than the hibernation one. Gromadzki (1969) in Poland counted 10 plant species in the
stomach contents of 85 starlings during the period from February to September. These include Triticum vulgare Vill.,
Myosotis sp. and Cerasus avium (L.) Moench. In Nelson’s forest (41°17'S., 173°15'E.) in New Zealand, Williams and Karl
(1996) found in the Sturnus vulgaris droppings fragments of Elderberry fruit (Sambucus nigra, Caprifoliaceae) and have
observed it in the process of consuming apple-kongourou of Tasmania (Solanum aviculare, Solanaceae), the matai or dark
Pine Prumnopitys taxifolia (Prumnopityaceae), white pine Dacrycarpus dacrydioides (Podocarpaceae) and Tikoti
Alectryon excelsus (Sapindaceae). Isotti (1997) in a suburban environment near Rome observe during the pup rearing in
April the absence of the vegetal part while in May the vegetal part is represented by the ingestion of cherry
(Prunus avium). This is because the cherry is ripe in May and still green in April. According to several authors European
starling can ingest different berries and fruit crops such as tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, pears, figs,
grapes and cherries and ornamental plants such as elderberries and blackberries (Brown 1981; Feare et al. 1992). In very
cold weather, European starling complements its diet with soft seeds taken from maize silage fodder for cattle or, in plots
recently planted in winter cereals where it collects the germinate seeds (Clergeau 2000). In forest, the starling seems to be
attracted by the podocarpe of Cordyline australis (Liliaceae) and Fuchsia excorticata (Onagraceae) but especially by
Solanum nigrum (Karl and Williams 1996). It is likely that in his breeding area, Sturnus vulgaris search more fruits rich in
complex carbohydrates and simple sugars while in its wintering area it falls back on diaspores containing high amounts of
fat, such as olive, Pistacia lentiscus fruits and dates of Whashingtonia robusta, W. filifera and Phoenix canariensis.
In addition, Western Hutt hills in the south-west coast of New Zealand (41°12'S., 174°55'E). Gibb (2000) note 57 Ficus
carica figs in the diet of Sturnus vulgaris. Wild fruits consumed constitute 15.2% of the total food ingested according to
Havlin and Folk (1964) cited by Cramp & Perrins (1994). In New York, Karasov (1996) and Starck (1999) note that the
plant part constitute a large proportion in the starlings diet during the autumn and winter.
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Hassiba Berraï & Salaheddine Doumandji
Doumandji and Doumandji-Mitiche (1994) note by the coastline, acrobatic flights in early autumn, made by starlings to
capture swarming Messor barbara ants. Havlin and Folk (1964) cited by Cramp & Perrins (1994) noted in 336 Sturnus
vulgaris stomach contents between March and November 1964 that the animal species ingested are part of Hymenoptera
(24.2%) with 22.6% of Formicidae and 21.5% of Coleoptera. Other authors rightly point out that the starling’s food is both
animal and vegetal throughout the year with a predominance of the animal part during the spring and especially during the
feeding of nestlings (Karasov 1996; Starck 1999).
Diet Composition According to Classes and Orders
Near Beaulieu (36°43'N., 3°09'E.), Doumandji and Doumandji-Mitiche (1994) note the use of pupae and
millipedes Iulidae in the soil by Sturnus vulgaris. Tinbergen (1981) in Schiermonnikoog in waddenzee island during the
nesting period noted in the diet of Sturnus vulgaris 3 classes of invertebrates the Oligochaeta, the Arachnida and Insecta.
It is noteworthy that starlings seek their prey mainly at ground level. Trotta (2001) reported six classes of animal species
consumed by European starling in the western periphery of Rome. These are the Oligochaeta, the Gastropoda, the
Arachnida, the Myriapoda, Insecta and the Reptilia. Although the above study areas are different from each other and
belong to different biological areas, the trophic diet of Sturnus vulgaris include classes belonging essentially to
invertebrates, which shows a great similarity between the menus . According to Isotti (1997) European starling has
preferences during the breeding ground for insect larvae (caterpillars) and insect with soft integument. Trotta (2001) notes
the presence of 84.1% of insects in the diet of adults Sturnus vulgaris and 80.1% among the youth. According to the same
author, the percentage of insects in the diet of young Starlings in the nest is 78.7% while that of young flying Starlings was
84.1%.
Similarly in central New Mexico Moore (1986) found nine orders with seven of Insecta, the Heteroptera,
Homoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera. To these must be added Isopoda and Araneida found in
105 gizzards of the Sturnus vulgaris. In the North of Havelock in the North Island of New Zealand, Moeed (1975) found
eight orders of Insecta in 19 starlings gizzards collected in December 1974 at bird houses. He noted Odonata, Orthoptera,
the Dermaptera, the Heteroptera, the Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera. In the same country and in the
breeding area of the starling Coleman (1977) found in 406 Starlings gizzards 14,808 Coleoptera individuals 56.6%.
He identifies about four orders of insects with the Heteroptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera. Apparently in
particular environments the diversity of the orders which the pray belongs to are low.
Monthly Composition of the European Starling Trophic Menu
In the area of reproduction, in the Western Hutt hills in the south-west coast of New Zealand, Gibb (2000) notes
the presence of 6 figs Ficus carica just in March. This number fluctuates between 19 and 31 over the next two months.
According to Lobb and Wood (1971) in July, spiders and earthworms are highly consumed by Sturnus vulgaris, during
which there is a low density of insects. Between September and May Irenimus spp. and Dryopais variabilis
(Curculionnidae) appear to be strongly present in the droppings of starlings. Weevils are considered an important source of
food. Costelytra zealandica (Scarabaeidae) is strongly ingested as adult in November-December and larvae between March
and May. Agrotis ypsilon (Noctuidae) appears regularly in the diet of starlings but more frequent in January. Coleophora
spp. (Coleophoridae) appears in larval faeces from January to April.
Impact Factor (JCC): 4.3594
Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0
What Does the European Starling Eat (Sturnus vulgaris) in Algeria, Region of its Wintering Area?
53
Relative Abundance of Ingested Species and Diversity of Sturnus vulgaris Diet
In the stomach contents of 19 Starling collected in December in New Zealand where the starling nests, Moeed
(1975) notes the abundance of Coleoptera with 61.3% of which Graphognathus leucoloma (18%), followed by Lepidoptera
with 11.3% represented by a caterpillar of Noctuidae indeterminate (15%), the most abundant species is Heteroptera with
11.3% which Rhodopsalta sp. is the most represented. On the other hand, Coleman (1977) notes in New Zealand between
February and April Irenimus aequalis (Curculionidae, Coleoptera) as the most abundant species with a rate of 92.2% in the
European starling trophic menu, followed by Hyperodes bonariensis (Curculionidae) and Enneboeus sp. (Tenebrionidae).
In this work, European starling seems to have a preference for fruits such as olive and pistachio-lentisc and insects
such as Hymenoptera with Messor barbara and Coleoptera. Several authors confirm this tendency for Hymenoptera and
Coleoptera (Moeed 1975; Coleman 1977). This is probably due to their availability during the winter-automn. That how
Doumandji and Doumandji-Mitiche (1996) noted in the Surnus vulgaris faeces 14 olives pulp and hackberry fruit leftover
(Celtis australis). This bird reject many small oleaster pits (Olea europaea oleaster), large olives pits (Olea europaea
europaea) and even Palmaceae seeds such as Washingtonia filifera and Washingtonia robusta. In the starlings breeding
area, the major part of the diet of this spices consists mainly of insect, arthropods especially when they swarm
(Havlin and Folk 1964 cited by Cramp & Perrins 1994; Gromadzki 1969; Moeed 1975; Coleman 1977). Indeed, Poland
Gromadzki (1969) note after analysis of 85 stomach contents, high frequencies for Diptera (45.6%), Coleoptera (31.2%)
and Lepidoptera (13.2%). Other taxonomic groups are present by 9.4%.
Regarding the equitability the lowest values of E close to zero imply that there is an imbalance between the
number of species, and therefore one or two species dominate, and highly consumed. Regarding the different types of
vegetal fragments contained in the droppings, equitability is quite high. It varies between 0.55 and 0.80 with a tendency
towards 1. This confirms that the number of vegetal species consumed tend to be balance between them. These results
show that Sturnus vulgaris is an opportunist; it adapts itself to the environment availability. Sometimes its trophic diet is
unbalanced. In this case, it is permissible to say that it is an opportunistic species. neither Gromadzki (1969), or Lobb and
Wood (1971), or Moeed (1975) or Coleman (1977), or Tinbergen (1981) or Moore (1986), and neither
Doumandji & Doumandji-Mitiche (1994, 1996) nor Williams and Karl (1996), or Isotti (1997), or Gibb (2000) and neither
Trotta (2001) who studied yet the diet of the starling have used diversity indices and the equitability to exploit their results.
CONCLUSIONS
In the Mitidja plain part of its hibernation area, the European starling ingests less food than in Europe its breeding
area. It should be noted that it ingests in the Mitidja many more animals prey than plants. This study highlights the
importance of the animal part in the digestive tracts of Sturnus vulgaris, with more than 4/5th of the food intake against
less than 1/5th of vegetable part. It consumes Sturnidae especially Coleoptera and Hymenoptera and behaves as
insectivorous predator in its breeding area. However, in the study area, the intake of fruits rich in carbohydrates and fats
such as olives, dates, pistachios to allow it to rebuild its reserves for the return flight.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My sincere thanks and gratitude addressed to Professor DOUMANDJI Salaheddine of the National School of
Agronomy El Harrach, for agreeing to be my research director, for his invaluable advice and have always been present to
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54
Hassiba Berraï & Salaheddine Doumandji
orient myself. My sincere thanks go to him for long hours to determine the species found in the stomach contents of
Sturnus vulgaris patiently and to correct this document.
Mr. Boualem RAHMOUNI he be thanked for the many hours for many days and even weeks that I have spent
accompanying me in the field and for his help during manipulations in the study sites. I will not be forgetting to thank him
for his financial support without which this work would not have been possible.
I want to thank you Mr. HAMACHE and Mr. MOKABLI that have made me enjoy their fruitful comments about
starlings. I hope they find my sincere gratitude.
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