Cooked Rice - white, unsalted

I'd be interested to hear your comments on offering the birds boiled rice (white and unsalted).

I had a cup or so left over plain white boiled rice - cooked without salt.  For the first time I offered it out to the birds and they all seemed to enjoy it.  Except the starlings that is.  I was amazed to see the Blackbirds and Robins really getting tucked in.  

My questions are:

• Is it only because it's so cold that many of the birds were eating it?
• Why don't the starlings like it? - they devour everything else!
• We eat rice a couple of times a week and it would be no bother to cook a little extra each time - The RSPB advice pages says that it will be readily accepted by all species in a severe winter.  Would it be best just to put it out when it's extremely cold or in winter generally?

 Thanks in advance.

Angie