Dispersal аnd ecology of Sturnus vulgaris in South Siberia

The article presents an analysis of literary data and our own observations on dispersal and ecology of the common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) in Southern Siberia. Until recently, scientists considered Cisbaikalia and Western Transbaikalia the eastern periphery of Sturnus vulgaris range, presented by S. v. pjltaraskyi. Currently, the Far Eastern geographical population is intensively formed as a result of the emergence of a new eastern direction of the migration route from wintering sites, involving some individuals of this species. The South Siberian and Far Eastern populations do not have contacts during the nesting period, which is important to consider for future studies. In different regions of Southern Siberia the status of starling populations is unclear. If in the western regions (Salair-Kuznetsky, Altai) their numbers are relatively stable, then in the southeastern and eastern marginal regions (Tuva, Transbaikalia) their distributional pattern is very unstable, currently the numbers are low, in some places close to zero. In Southern Siberia, the starling is a migratory bird; it stays here from the end of March to October, in some areas - from mid-April to the 20th of September. In the western regions of Southern Siberia, readily inhabits both natural and anthropogenic biotopes, including human settlements. However, in Tuva and Transbaikalia, it tends to favor natural habitats. Usually the common starling has one clutch; in exceptional cases, they may have two hatches. In general, the nesting ecology of Sturnus vulgaris in Southern Siberia does not differ significantly from that in other regions of Northern Eurasia.