Starlings in North America

Sphenisciologist

Sphenisciologist

Well-Known Member
The purpose of this thread is to list as many known holders of species in the family Sturnidae as possible. Passerines in general are difficult to keep track of, so it’s no secret that this list will probably come with many updates and corrections right away, which are always appreciated. Additionally, I will personally be attempting to work on narrowing down the passerine orders to focus on certain bird families and merge their close relatives with the shorter lists. No information older than 2018 was used for this list.
Overall, starlings are relatively common in North American zoos. In terms of rarities, San Diego seems to prevail once again. To my surprise, several smaller collections had relatively uncommon species of starlings based on more digging. To no surprise, in terms of species, the bali mynas and superb starlings dominate. Because of their relatively common status, I definitely expect more.

Sturnidae

Ampeliceps

Golden-crested Mynah (2 holders)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Central Park Zoo

Aplonis

Metallic Starling (8 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Minnesota Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
San Diego Zoo
Zoo Miami
ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Cinnyricinclus

Violet-backed Starling (8-9 holders)
Brookfield Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden(?)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Memphis Zoo
Nashville Zoo
San Diego Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo
Toledo Zoo

Creatophora

Wattled Starling (1? holder)
San Diego Zoo Safari Park(?)

Gracupica

Black-collared Starling (4 holders)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
San Diego Zoo
Zoo Miami

Leucopsar

Bali Myna (29 holders)
Albuquerque BioPark
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Dallas World Aquarium
Franklin Park Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Minnesota Zoo
Moody Gardens
North Carolina Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Prospect Park Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
Stone Zoo
Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center
Tulsa Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Lamprotornis

Cape Glossy Starling (1 holder)
San Diego Zoo

Emerald Starling (13 holders)
Central Park Zoo
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Houston Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Mississippi Aquarium
Memphis Zoo
North Carolina Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sedgwick County Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
Zoo Miami

Golden-breasted Starling (20 holders)
Central Park Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Franklin Park Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Lincoln Park Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Louisville Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
National Aviary
Oklahoma City Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sedgwick County Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Miami

Greater Blue-eared Starling (1 holder)
San Diego Zoo

Long-tailed Glossy Starling (2 holders)
Central Park Zoo
San Francisco Zoo

Purple Glossy Starling (5-6 holders)
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Capron Park Zoo
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Kansas City Zoo
North Carolina Zoo(?)
San Diego Zoo

Superb Starling (24 holders)
Abilene Zoo
Albuquerque BioPark
Bird Kingdom (Ontario)
Blank Park Zoo
Bloedel Conservatory
Bronx Zoo
Cape May County Park & Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Kansas City Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Mill Mountain Zoo
Mississippi Aquarium
North Carolina Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Toledo Zoo
Zoo Atlanta

Scissirostrum

Grosbeak Starling (4 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo

Sturnus
Because common starlings are an invasive species, it’s very possible that some of these holders (and more) are wild populations.

Common Starling (5 holders)
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
Flamingo Gardens
San Francisco Zoo
Sawgrass Nature Center
Tennessee Aquarium
 
Last edited:
Sphenisciologist said:
Bali Myna (27 holders)
Albuquerque BioPark
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Dallas World Aquarium
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Minnesota Zoo
Moody Gardens
North Carolina Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
Stone Zoo
Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center
Tulsa Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Click to expand...
Also Franklin Park Zoo and Prospect Park Zoo.
Sphenisciologist said:
Golden-breasted Starling (18 holders)
Central Park Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Lincoln Park Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Louisville Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
National Aviary
Oklahoma City Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sedgwick County Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Miami
Click to expand...
Also Franklin Park Zoo and Rosamond Gifford Zoo.
Sphenisciologist said:
Superb Starling (22 holders)
Abilene Zoo
Albuquerque BioPark
Blank Park Zoo
Bloedel Conservatory
Bronx Zoo
Cape May County Park & Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Kansas City Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Mill Mountain Zoo
Mississippi Aquarium
North Carolina Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Saint Louis Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Toledo Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
Click to expand...
Also Rosamond Gifford Zoo and Bird Kingdom.

Golden-Crested Mynah was missing from the above-list, and is held at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Central Park Zoo. Overall, great work starting a list on what is my absolute favorite family of passerines (and second favorite family of birds)!
 
Great start. Some edits to note:

Sphenisciologist said:
Golden-crested Mynah (2 holders)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Click to expand...
Neil chace said:
Golden-Crested Mynah was missing from the above-list
Click to expand...

At least 5 other holders have been reported since 2021:
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Fort Worth Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo

San Antonio also has Metallic, Emerald, Violet-backed and Superb Starlings.

Fort Worth had Metallic back in 2018, might still now.

Oklahoma City and Oregon are both listed as recent holders of Violet-backed, as well as Zoo Atlanta in 2018.

Wattled Starling is not on display at SDZSP anymore AFAIK.

San Diego Zoo has Grosbeak Starling.
 
Golden-crested Myna is kept by Minnesota.

Bali Myna is kept by Milwaukee.

Superb Starling is kept by Milwaukee.

Columbus keeps Violet-backed Starling.

Brookfield keeps Emerald Starling.
 
As far as I know, these additions should all still be accurate.

Oregon Zoo:
purple glossy starling
superb starling
golden-breasted starling

Louisville Zoo:
common starling
Bali myna

Memphis Zoo:
golden-breasted starling

Bronx Zoo:
golden-breasted starling
emerald starling
violet-backed starling
 
Last edited:
Emerald also at Birmingham, Detroit, Fort Worth, Oregon.

Golden-breasted at Caldwell, Calgary, Dallas, Fort Worth, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seneca Park, St Louis, Toledo, Toronto, Reid Park.

Violet-backed - Assiniboine Park, Atlanta, Birmingham, Honolulu, Houston, Miami, Oklahoma City, Oregon, Staten Island

Grosbeak - National Aviary
 
Update #1

Sturnidae

Ampeliceps

Golden-crested Mynah (7 holders)
Central Park Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Fort Worth Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo

Aplonis

Metallic Starling (9-10 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Fort Worth Zoo(?)
Minnesota Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
Zoo Miami
ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Cinnyricinclus

Violet-backed Starling (20-21 holders)
Assiniboine Park Zoo
Birmingham Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden(?)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Honolulu Zoo
Houston Zoo
Memphis Zoo
Nashville Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo
Oregon Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo
Staten Island Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Miami

Gracupica

Black-collared Starling (4 holders)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
San Diego Zoo
Zoo Miami

Leucopsar

Bali Mynah (32 holders)
Albuquerque BioPark
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Dallas World Aquarium
Franklin Park Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Louisville Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Moody Gardens
National Aviary
North Carolina Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Prospect Park Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
Stone Zoo
Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center
Tulsa Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Lamprotornis

Cape Glossy Starling (1 holder)
San Diego Zoo

Emerald Starling (20 holders)
Birmingham Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Detroit Zoo
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Fort Worth Zoo
Houston Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Mississippi Aquarium
Memphis Zoo
North Carolina Zoo
Oregon Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sedgwick County Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
Zoo Miami

Golden-breasted Starling (34 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Caldwell Zoo
Calgary Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Dallas Zoo
Fort Worth Zoo
Franklin Park Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Lincoln Park Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Louisville Zoo
Memphis Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
National Aviary
Oklahoma City Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Oregon Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Phoenix Zoo
Reid Park Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
San Antonio Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sedgwick County Zoo
Seneca Park Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Toronto Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Miami

Greater Blue-eared Starling (1 holder)
San Diego Zoo

Long-tailed Glossy Starling (2 holders)
Central Park Zoo
San Francisco Zoo

Purple Glossy Starling (6-7 holders)
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Capron Park Zoo
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Kansas City Zoo
North Carolina Zoo(?)
Oregon Zoo
San Diego Zoo

Superb Starling (26 holders)
Abilene Zoo
Albuquerque BioPark
Bird Kingdom (Ontario)
Blank Park Zoo
Bloedel Conservatory
Bronx Zoo
Cape May County Park & Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Kansas City Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Mill Mountain Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
Mississippi Aquarium
North Carolina Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Oregon Zoo
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Toledo Zoo
Zoo Atlanta

Scissirostrum

Grosbeak Starling (5 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
National Aviary
Sedgwick County Zoo

Sturnus

Common Starling (6 holders)
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
Flamingo Gardens
Louisville Zoo
San Francisco Zoo
Sawgrass Nature Center
Tennessee Aquarium
 
Golden-breasted starling was not on exhibit or signed on my last visit to the Saint Louis Zoo about a week ago but I am not sure if this is long-term. Birds are removed from exhibits and pop back up in others fairly frequently at this zoo I have found.
 
cloudedleopard611 said:
Golden-breasted starling was not on exhibit or signed on my last visit to the Saint Louis Zoo about a week ago but I am not sure if this is long-term. Birds are removed from exhibits and pop back up in others fairly frequently at this zoo I have found.
Click to expand...
They frequently switch the superb and golden-breasted starlings on and off exhibit, which can make things very confusing. The space below the bird house is also used for backup-bird specimen storage, so there may be individuals down there that haven’t been put on display as of late.
 
Sphenisciologist said:
They frequently switch the superb and golden-breasted starlings on and off exhibit, which can make things very confusing. The space below the bird house is also used for backup-bird specimen storage, so there may be individuals down there that haven’t been put on display as of late.
Click to expand...
I haven't noticed the superb starling moving recently, but I'm sure its been done before.
 
Sphenisciologist said:
Superb Starling (24 holders)
Abilene Zoo
Albuquerque BioPark
Bird Kingdom (Ontario)
Blank Park Zoo
Bloedel Conservatory
Bronx Zoo
Cape May County Park & Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Kansas City Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Mill Mountain Zoo
Mississippi Aquarium
North Carolina Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Toledo Zoo
Zoo Atlanta
Click to expand...

Also at Roosevelt Park Zoo in North Dakota.

Twitterpated. Our Starlings are engaging in courting & nesting behaviors! Aviary open 9-6 daily. . Feathered friends fun at our #PartyForThePlanet... | By Roosevelt Park Zoo | Facebook
 
cloudedleopard611 said:
Golden-breasted starling was not on exhibit or signed on my last visit to the Saint Louis Zoo about a week ago but I am not sure if this is long-term. Birds are removed from exhibits and pop back up in others fairly frequently at this zoo I have found.
Click to expand...
Just like I expected golden-breasted starling is back on exhibit at the Saint Louis Zoo.
 
Utah's Hogle Zoo houses a single-sex flock of superb starling (I believe they are all female)

Tracy Aviary (Salt Lake City, UT) holds:

Baby myna
Metallic starling
Superb starling
 
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