European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are a non-native species introduced to North America in the late 1800s. Their adaptable and aggressive nature allows them to dominate backyard feeding stations. Starlings feed in large, competitive flocks that rapidly consume a feeder’s supply, leaving little for smaller, native songbirds. Their messy habits also contribute to wasted seed and attract pests. Successfully deterring these birds requires an integrated approach focusing on physical exclusion, food choice, and environmental management.
Modifying Feeder Structure for Exclusion
Physical adjustments to feeding equipment offer the most direct method for excluding European Starlings. Starlings are larger and heavier than many desirable backyard birds, allowing for exclusion based on size and weight. Caged feeders use a surrounding wire mesh barrier with precisely sized openings, typically around 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches. This spacing allows smaller songbirds to access the food ports while physically blocking the bulkier starling.
Weight-activated feeders are designed with a mechanism that closes the feeding ports when a bird of a certain weight lands on the perch. The mechanism can be calibrated to allow access for lighter species while shutting down the food supply for heavier starlings. Using tube feeders equipped with very short perches is also beneficial, as starlings struggle to maneuver on unstable perches. These modifications force starlings to expend more energy, prompting them to seek easier food sources elsewhere.
Switching Food Types to Deter Starlings
Altering the menu to include foods starlings find unappealing is an effective, non-physical deterrent. European Starlings are opportunistic omnivores but dislike safflower seed. Safflower is a small, white seed that songbirds readily consume, but starlings find its bitter flavor unpalatable. Gradually mixing safflower with your current seed blend helps native birds acclimate before switching to offering safflower exclusively.
Nyjer seed (thistle) is also a poor choice for starlings and should be offered in specialized tube feeders with tiny ports. Avoid offering foods starlings favor, such as inexpensive seed mixes containing filler grains like millet or cracked corn. If offering suet, use specialized cages that require the bird to feed while clinging to the bottom, forcing them to feed upside down. This position is awkward for starlings, but acrobats like nuthatches and woodpeckers can feed from it easily.
Managing the Feeding Environment
Maintaining a clean and strategic feeding area minimizes the attraction for starlings. Starlings are natural ground foragers, and their messy eating habits often result in spilled seed beneath the feeder. Regular cleanup of this spilled seed eliminates a secondary food source that starlings exploit. Sweeping or raking up the area every day or two interrupts their foraging pattern.
Feeder placement should also be considered to make the area less inviting. Starlings often gather in large flocks on elevated spots, such as trees or utility wires, before descending. Placing feeders away from these staging areas reduces the immediate presence of a large flock. If starlings overwhelm the area, temporarily remove all feeders for one to two weeks to force the flock to move on and establish a new foraging routine elsewhere.