From my experience, if you clip them with a non-pristine shot but end up taking flight. If the legs are dangling instead of being tucked up for flight, the starlings expire shortly after landing usually not too far away. Also if they fly off making the distress call, more starlings try flying to the rescue. A Library of Ornithology has recordings of these calls, so you can become familiar with these smart corvids and their discussions. Just to be clear, I go for chest shots with a .25 caliber, Crow magnums are a devastating pellet and over 70% of the time Starlings are DRT when hit. The other 30% go no further than 40 yards or less. We won't discuss the times I get 'skunked' , cause then I give up for an hour or so and wait for them to get comfy again. Then its on again. MAX 115 is way better shot than I, all I know is I really enjoy his videos.