Scientific name:
Icteridae

Natural spread:
America

the neuweltlichen Stärlinge, in the English usage of "Oriols" named, is not at all relative with the same-named European oriole (Oriolus oriolus). The name is rather based on the yellow-black plumage of many types. Also red and white plumage-colors occur besides it. Also the scientific name of the Trupiale (type Icterus) and the whole family refers on the plumage-coloring. A typical characteristic of the forehead-birds (several types) Z. B. if the forehead-plate, a formation of the waiter-beak, is. Even if both sexes immediately are colored, the females remain markedly smaller; usually, a distinctive Geschlechtsdimorphismus is available also in the coloring.

Shape The family Stärlinge is very heterogeneous composite. If we call only some types or type-groups, for example the Trupiale, the Schwarzstärlinge, the Kuhstärlinge, the boat-tails or the Reisstärlinge, so we find that varies the size of the birds between the measurements of a finch and those of a crow. The Reisstärling or Bobofink (Dolichonyx oryzovorus) with its short beak is among the small ones of the 93 types with its 18-20 cm of length while the biggest forms are to be sought among the forehead-birds; the Olivstirnvogel (Psarocolius viridis) is the biggest type with 45-53 cm with the male (females 42-45 cm). Also under the boat-tails or Grackeln, big types, Z, are represented. B. the Mexico-boat-tail or Riesengrackel (Cassidix mexicanus, 43 cm). The small Trupiale (15-26 cm of length) have a thin, downward bent beak; with many other types, it is conical, long and pointed.

Way of life The spread-main focus lies in means and South America, in North America, only 20 types occur; migratory birds are 4 of the North American types. Stärlinge populated many different habitats: Forests, brushland, prairies, gardens, swamps and deserts. Also the different diet is based on it. While the forehead-birds prefer fruits, many Stärlingsarten live on insects or as the Reisstärling of seeds. Some types are omnivores and supplement its menu through smaller vertebrates furthermore.

Some types live very sociably, and many nest in colonies. Things often are very noisily at the Nistplätzen, because all types are good singers. The nests are very different like the nest-locations. they can openly and bowl - or cup-shaped is; the forehead-birds and the Trupiale hang its bag-shaped ones, carefully from grass of woven nests (up to 1,8 m long) at the branches of big trees.

Brood-parasitism The Stärlinge, especially the Kuhstärlinge, took also another way in order to rear descendants. Originally all types probably must have brooded themselves, because today, one can recognize a clear development of the absolute brood-parasitism in all transition-steps. Frequently, no solid pair-relationship takes place with the Stärlingen, especially among the brood-parasites; also relaxed reproductive-communities with several females are possible. The Braunkuhstärling (Molothrus badius) already starts to neglect the nest-construction. The female puts its eggs into the abandoned nests of other birds, however, the brood comes up with the male together. Comings and again, also several females should brood together if the Nistmöglichkeiten are rated barely. As well, own nests are still built sometimes. The birds live in monogamy. A narrowly relative type puts its eggs to those of the Braunkuhstärlinge to it and broods no more itself.

In addition, the females of the Glanzkuhstärlinge or silk-cow-birds (Molothrus bonariensis) specialized on immediately putting several eggs into the nests of the most different host-birds. Frequently, bigger nests are built, especially since if several females visit the same host, as can be incubated by the host-birds. Also the Glanzkuhstärlinge still start to build nests, never brings its work to the perfection, however. Rather they drop the eggs on the ground somewhere if no suitable host-bird-nest is in the proximity. This behavior appears little meaningfully in the biological sense. So, the cow-bird (Molothrus ater) from North America finally moved on to distributing its eggs individually among different nests. it doesn't participate choosy; the statements of the host-bird-types fluctuate between 180 and 200. Not only in it, it deviates in its behavior of the European cuckoo: Besides the young Kuhstärling, the host-birds can usually rear also its own boys.