What behavior do Starlings exhibit before roosting?

Starlings exhibit the behavior of staging on a high perch before roosting as a way to prepare for their nighttime congregations. This behavior serves multiple purposes; it allows them to assess their surroundings for potential threats and to communicate with other members of their flock. By surveying the area from a high vantage point, they can ensure safety in numbers when they eventually settle down for the night.

Staging also provides an opportunity for them to socialize and coordinate with other starlings, culminating in a synchronized roosting behavior that is a defining feature of their ecology. Other options, while they may seem plausible, do not specifically capture this pre-roosting behavior in starlings. For instance, gathering on the ground and searching for food are activities they engage in during the day, while continuous chirping is a general behavioral trait that does not specifically relate to the roosting process.