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The only birds that fail to get even a passing glance are the three introduced species that populate almost every inch of the tristate: the European Starling, the Rock Pigeon, and the House Sparrow. These three European immigrants have succeeded in spreading across the entire hemisphere, preferring to live in close proximity to human settlements.
Each species can be linked to specific ecological problems, particularly those involving native birdlife, and therefore draw the ire of birders and conservationists alike. Those who have witnessed large numbers of sparrows, pigeons, or starlings in an area can certainly attest to the mess they make on buildings and monuments.
Despite the dark cloud hanging over these birds, I think birders everywhere ought to give them a second look. Upon closer inspection, one notices the starling’s striking plumage offset by a bright yellow bill.
And while they certainly have their messy feeding habits, they can hardly be considered unattractive birds. Male house sparrows also sport a surprisingly handsome plumage of mixed chestnut, gray, and brown, and their chirping is often the only sound of non-human life in a busy city park.
While it's difficult to find anything positive to say about pigeons, I find the various plumage patterns of feral birds to be both fascinating and stunning. Pigeons that habitually roost in the same area will lure in hunting peregrine falcons, resulting in a spectacular areal chase not unlike a World War II dogfight.
Perhaps most importantly, these three species afford us the opportunity to see birds in areas that would otherwise be devoid of them, a slice of nature in even the most artificial environment.
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