European Starlings at Bird Feeders: How to Manage Them
European starlings are glossy black birds with pale spots in winter and a yellow bill in spring. They aren't native. About 100 were released in New York in 1890, and now they're among the most common birds in North America. They travel in noisy flocks and can empty a feeder in minutes.
How to recognize them
Starlings are stocky and short-tailed, with a pointed bill. They walk rather than hop, and they mimic other birds and sounds, from whistles to car alarms.
Choose foods they don't like
Starlings love suet, cracked corn, bread, and mixed seed. They mostly ignore safflower and whole black-oil sunflower seeds, which their bills can't crack well.
Cardinals love safflower. Squirrels, grackles, and starlings usually don't, which makes it a smart seed for feeders that get raided.
Check price on Amazon for Wagner's Safflower Seed (opens Amazon)Use feeders that favor small birds
Starlings can't easily hang upside down. An upside-down suet feeder lets woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees eat while starlings struggle.
Tube feeders with short perches and weight-activated feeders set to close under heavier birds also help.
Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees happily hang upside down to eat. Starlings and grackles mostly don't, so the suet goes to the birds you want.
Check price on Amazon for Birds Choice Upside-Down Suet Feeder (opens Amazon)The squirrel-proof feeder most experienced backyard birders end up buying. When a squirrel climbs on, its weight pulls a shroud down over the seed ports. Small birds keep eating.
Check price on Amazon for Brome Squirrel Buster Plus (opens Amazon)Protect nest boxes
Starlings compete with bluebirds and woodpeckers for nest holes. An entrance hole of 1 1/2 inches or smaller keeps them out of bluebird boxes.
Frequently asked questions
Are European starlings protected?
No. They're an introduced species and aren't protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but check local rules before removing nests.
Do starlings eat safflower?
Rarely. Safflower is one of the best foods to offer if starlings are a problem.
Why do starlings come in such big flocks?
They're very social, especially in fall and winter, when flocks can number in the thousands.
Not sure which feeder fits your yard?
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