Many members of the starling family are noisy and gregarious and several live in close proximity to man and may even be serious agricultural pests; on the other hand, some are critically endangered. Starlings are small to medium-sized birds usually with a robust, sharp beak and strong legs and feet; they often prefer walking or running to hopping. Their diet is catholic and they are often extremely adaptable. This may be why some species are so successful, with populations numbering in the tens of millions, or in the case of the European Starling, hundreds of millions.