Large, gregarious blackbirds—such as Common Grackles, European Starlings, and Red-winged Blackbirds—can quickly overwhelm a backyard feeding station. These species are known for aggressive behavior, rapidly consuming large quantities of seed, and deterring smaller songbirds. Managing these visitors requires implementing specific, humane strategies to make the food source less accessible and less appealing. The goal is to provide a dining environment tailored exclusively to the size and feeding habits of smaller avian species.
Adjusting Feeder Hardware and Design
Physical modifications to feeding equipment offer a reliable way to exclude larger birds based on their size and weight. Weight-activated feeders employ a mechanism, often a spring-loaded perch, that senses the weight of a visiting bird. When a heavier bird, like a blackbird or starling, lands, the feeding ports automatically close, cutting off access to the seed. This allows lighter songbirds, such as chickadees and finches, to feed freely. Many models allow for an adjustable threshold to exclude specific species based on their average mass.
Caged feeders provide another physical barrier, surrounding the primary seed reservoir with a wire mesh enclosure. This design relies on the size difference between the target songbirds and the larger blackbirds. The mesh openings, typically 1.5 to 2 inches, are large enough for small birds to pass through easily but too restrictive for bulkier blackbirds and grackles. Smaller birds can access the seed tube inside the cage, while larger species are physically blocked from the ports.
Feeder design can also be manipulated by focusing on the perch configuration. Blackbirds are generally perching birds that prefer wide, stable surfaces to feed comfortably. Feeders that eliminate traditional horizontal perches, offering only vertical or very short perches, favor smaller, more agile birds like nuthatches and titmice. These smaller species are comfortable clinging to a surface rather than perching. An upside-down suet feeder, for example, forces a bird to hang and feed from the bottom, a position most starlings and grackles avoid.
Changing Seed Choices to Discourage Blackbirds
Manipulating the type of food offered can reduce blackbird attendance by making the feeder less attractive. Blackbirds are opportunistic and particularly drawn to high-energy, easy-to-eat grains often found in inexpensive mixes. Seeds to avoid include cracked corn, millet, and pre-mixed blends containing these ingredients, as blackbirds readily consume them. Sunflower seeds are also a favorite, especially the shelled hearts, which require no effort to process.
A shift to seeds that blackbirds find difficult to consume or dislike can effectively discourage their visits. Safflower seed is noted as a successful deterrent because it possesses a bitter flavor that blackbirds typically avoid. However, safflower remains popular with cardinals, chickadees, and finches. Alternatively, offering seeds with hard shells, such as striped sunflower seed or whole peanuts, can thwart species like European Starlings, which lack the beak strength to crack them open efficiently.
Suet often attracts blackbirds, particularly starlings, who rapidly deplete standard suet cakes. To mitigate this, use specialized suet feeders that require birds to feed from the bottom or those encased in a fine mesh cage. Offering suet mixed with capsaicin, often called hot pepper suet, exploits the fact that birds are unaffected by the compound while deterring mammals like squirrels.
Strategic Placement and Temporary Measures
The physical location of the feeder and active management of its availability are effective strategies for breaking blackbird feeding habits. Placing the feeder away from easy access points, such as fences, deck railings, or large tree branches, makes it less convenient for large flocks to stage a quick raid. Mounting the feeder on a smooth pole at a height of at least five feet makes it harder for ground-based animals to climb and provides a clear flight path for smaller birds.
When blackbird flocks become established and persistent, temporary removal of the food source is often the most direct method to encourage them to leave. This involves taking all feeders down for a period, typically three to seven days. Since blackbirds are highly mobile and constantly searching for reliable food sources, removing the reward forces them to seek sustenance elsewhere, often causing the flock to disperse.
Dedicated Feeding Areas
For those who wish to continue feeding blackbirds away from songbird feeders, establishing a dedicated feeding area can be considered. This involves placing less desirable, cheap food—like cracked corn—on the ground or on a platform far away from the main feeding station. This acts as a distraction, drawing the large species to a separate location while the preferred songbird feeders remain stocked with less-attractive seeds like safflower.
Visual Deterrents
Visual deterrents, such as shiny objects or reflective tape placed near the feeder, may offer a temporary solution by startling the birds. However, their effect is short-lived as blackbirds rapidly habituate to non-threatening stimuli.