These are European Starlings. They were introduced into Central Park in New York City by Eugene Schieffelin in 1890. He released 60 Starlings. Their descendants now number over 200 million birds.

He also introduced 40 other species of birds to Central Park, and it is thought that he wanted the people of New York to have all of the birds mentioned in Shakespeare's plays. The others were not as successful as the Starling.