These blackish-purple, glossy, medium size birds (7 to 8 inches long) and not native to the US. One hundred of these European bird were released in New York City in 1890. Today the descendants of these birds have spread throughout the US. They gather together each night to roost, because of this and their habit of taking nesting cavities from native birds, many people consider them pests. They are insect eaters.

(download full screen 300 dpi, 95K jpeg image)