In 1890, a pharmacist released 80 birds in New York’s Central Park to honour Shakespeare; 136 years later, their descendants number about 93 million across North America

In 1890, eighty European Starlings were introduced to Central Park, leading to a population explosion across North America. Over the span of just 130 years, these birds have shown remarkable local adaptability, as indicated by genetic studies. Although their numbers have faced a decline, the evolutionary insights gained from their rapid success present a significant opportunity for understanding the foundations of biodiversity.