urbpan: (feeding gull)
urbpan ([personal profile] urbpan) wrote2006-09-19 08:29 am

Talking pet starling

Not to give anyone any ideas, but in the United States, it's legal to own a European Starling as a pet (or pretty much do anything you want to them, as long as you don't run afoul of animal cruelty lawas). Here's someone in (apparently) South Carolina who has one, and has taught it a few phrases to speak. It's interesting how the quality of its voice is different from other talking birds.

http://myspace.com/talkingstarling

Edited to Add:

Interesting article about starling song choices: http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueID=104&articleID=1323

[identity profile] deathling.livejournal.com 2006-09-19 02:20 pm (UTC)(link)
His voice sounds like one of those artificial voice boxes (my fiancee calls them cancer kazoos).
I wouldn't want one of those birds. I think they are gross and grubby. Plus he's got a wicked looking beak.

[identity profile] bluelinegoddess.livejournal.com 2006-09-19 03:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I knew a parakeet (budgie) that talked the same way. He was fond of telling everyone what a pretty bird he was, catcalling when he saw himself in a mirror, and imitating laughs.