Talking pet starling

[urbpan]

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

Comments

[smallerdemon.livejournal.com]

Isn't there some special story about how they were introduced here?

(This past weekend I shot a great picture of one, though, perched on a street sign.)

European sparrows and starlings are both introduced species in the US as I recall.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I beg of you, click the link above for European starling. The story is there. House sparrows have a slightly different story. Together with pigeons, I call them the big three. (of introduced urban birds)

[smallerdemon.livejournal.com]

I beg of you, click the link above for European starling.

In the name of all that is holy?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Or Unholy, as you prefer.