El estornino de Mozart

On May 27, 1784, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart found himself in a Viennese shop with a flirtatious starling who sang an improvised version of the theme from his Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major. Sensing a kindred spirit in the young bird, he bought it and brought it home as a pet. For three years, the starling lived with Mozart, influencing his work and serving as his companion, distraction, comfort, and muse. Two centuries later, starlings are reviled by even the most compassionate conservationists. As an invasive non-native species, they invade sensitive habitats, compete with local birds for nesting sites and food, and decimate crops. Ornithologist and naturalist Lyanda Lynn Haupt is well aware of these birds' strained relationships with other species and the environment. But after rescuing a baby starling, she was enchanted by the intelligence and playful spirit that had awed her favorite songwriter. Haupt explores the unlikely and extraordinary link between one of history's most esteemed composers and one of the most common birds on Earth. The intertwined stories of Mozart's pet and Haupt's starling offer an unusual look into human-animal friendship, the secret world of starlings, and the nature of creative inspiration.