Crows are highly intelligent birds that can become problematic at bird feeders, scaring away smaller desirable songbirds. While crows themselves are amazing creatures, many bird enthusiasts want to deter crows from their feeders but allow smaller birds to access food. There are several effective techniques to scare away crows without harming them or impacting other birds.
Why Do Crows Come to Bird Feeders?
Crows are omnivorous opportunistic feeders. They will eat anything from insects and worms to fruits, seeds, nuts, eggs, young birds, and small animals. Bird seed at feeders is an easy meal for crows. Since crows are so intelligent, once they discover a feeder, they remember the location and return routinely to feed.
Crows are much larger than most songbirds. Their size and aggressive behavior often intimidates smaller birds, preventing them from feeding while crows are present. Crows will consume large amounts of seed quickly, potentially devastating supplies before smaller birds get a chance to feed.
Deterring Crows While Allowing Songbirds
The main goal usually is to deter crows but not other birds. Any measures used should not harm crows or songbirds in any way. The best approach combines multiple strategies to discourage crows through unwanted noises, movements, and obstructions that make feeding difficult for them. Smaller agile songbirds can still maneuver around deterrents to reach food.
Auditory Repellents
Crows have excellent hearing and use vocalizations to communicate. Certain sounds that cause alarm or stress can deter crows while allowing most songbirds to habituate.
Predator and Distress Call Playbacks
Recorded predator calls such as owls or hawks cause crows to become alert and wary. Recording distress calls of other crows signals danger, acting as a warning. When played through outdoor speakers near feeders, these sounds frighten and repel crows without impacting most other birds. The calls must be played randomly and only for short time periods to prevent crows from becoming accustomed to them.
Ultrasonic Devices
Ultrasonic devices emit high frequency sounds above the range of human hearing. Some claim they deter crows, but evidence shows crows cannot hear most ultrasounds above 20 kHz. Ultrasonic sounds may disturb or even harm songbirds who can hear higher frequencies. Instead, products that produce ultrasonic sounds combined with audible sound and flashing lights are more effective.
Tin Can Shakers
Strategically hanging cans filled with stones or pennies around feeders creates noise when shaken by wind. The sound startles crows when feeding. For best results, occasionally alter the location of tin can shakers.
Visual Repellents
Crows have excellent vision. Visual deterrents that cause fear, block access, or make crows unsure can discourage them from using feeders.
Scarecrow Effigies
Life-size human or predator effigies in the yard near the feeder cause unease in crows. Simple homemade scarecrows work well. Move them regularly so crows don’t become accustomed to seeing them in one place.
Material | Description |
---|---|
Brooms | Old brooms make simple scarecrow bodies |
Plastic bags | Silver crinkly plastic bags waving in the breeze scare crows |
Clothing | Clothes stuffed with newspaper create lifelike effigies |
Rags | Old rags can be tied to flutter in the wind |
Reflective Tape and Tin Foil
Mylar reflective tape, old CDs, broken mirrors, and tin foil strips create glints of light, motion, and distortion to unsettle crows. Hang them around feeders using fishing line that is barely visible. Change locations periodically.
Motion-Activated Devices
Devices triggered by motion sensors to produce sounds, lights, or spurts of water when crows land on or approach feeders frighten them. The sudden disturbances make crows hesitant to return. Place motion sensors to detect crows while avoiding smaller perching birds.
Physical Barriers
Physical impediments preventing crows from perching on or accessing feeders reduce their feeding opportunities.
Feeder Placement and Design
Hang feeders from wire cables with perches too small for crows rather than hooks, trees, or poles where crows can perch. Use feeder designs with weight-sensitive perches that close access to seed when heavy crows land. Keep feeders away from trees and buildings where crows can survey activity and drop down to feed.
Overhead Wires and Strings
Crisscrossing wire cables or strong strings above feeders block crows from landing while permitting smaller birds to fly underneath. Vary heights and spacing so crows cannot simply land between wires. Sloping the wires increasingly lower also deters crows while allowing small birds to pass under and feed.
Height Above Feeder | Spacing Between Wires |
---|---|
15 feet | 5 feet |
10 feet | 3 feet |
6 feet | 2 feet |
Netting
Covering feeders and perches with plastic or wire netting with openings large enough for small birds but too small for crows to enter blocks access. Take care not to entrap any birds under netting.
Chemical Repellents
Non-toxic chemical taste or scent repellents may discourage crows. Always follow product instructions carefully.
Capsaicin
The natural chemical that gives chili peppers their heat, capsaicin, is irritating when consumed. Spraying feeders and perches with capsaicin repels crows but does not affect songbirds who lack taste receptors for capsaicin. Reapply after rain.
Methyl Anthranilate
This grape flavoring applied to feeders produces a scent unpleasant to crows. Methyl anthranilate is non-toxic and does not impact songbirds or humans. Reapply the odor repellent frequently.
Egg and Milk Proteins
Coatings of dried egg white or milk casein protein on feeders give a tacky texture crows dislike. These non-toxic coatings wash off in the rain and must be reapplied every few days. Songbirds don’t seem to mind the texture.
Feeding Practices
Certain bird feeding practices can also make yards less attractive to crows.
Avoid Mixed Feeders
Separate bird feeders for different food types rather than mixed feeders. Crows are drawn to nuts, corn, and large seeds normally avoided by smaller birds. Remove preferred crow foods to discourage them.
Offer Less-Preferred Foods
Smaller birds favor nyjer seeds, millets, and fine sunflower bits. Offering less-preferred safflower, crushed eggshells, chopped fruit, and suet deters crows.
Use Squirrel Baffles
Squirrel baffles that obstruct access to seed ports on poles and hangers also prevent large crows from perching and feeding.
Remove Night Feeders
Crows are early risers. Removing feeders at night that could attract crows before smaller birds become active limits feeding opportunities for crows.
Clean Feeder Areas
Keep areas under feeders clean so spilled seeds don’t attract crows. Rotate locations and limit feeding time to reduce accumulation.
Avoid Overcrowding
Providing ample, widely-spaced bird feeders reduces competition between species, allowing songbirds to avoid crows lurking near feeders.
Using Multiple Deterrents
No single crow deterrent works perfectly at all times. The best approach uses several different deterrent strategies in combination to discourage crows and prevent them from becoming accustomed to any one technique. Shift locations regularly. Vary sounds, motions, repellents, and barriers so crows never know what to expect. With patience you can reclaim your feeders for small birds only.
Conclusion
Crows can be very challenging to deter from bird feeders without also scaring away smaller desirable birds. Their intelligence requires varying multiple strategies over time. Auditory repellents like distress calls and tin can shakers, visual scare tactics such as effigies, flashing lights and obstructive wires, and taste or smell repellents all help discourage crow feeding. Habitat modifications and bird feeding practices that make yards less attractive to crows can also be very effective. Implementing several integrated techniques consistently over time can get crows to abandon feeders while allowing songbirds to flourish. With some creativity and perseverance, you can have a feeder that welcomes smaller birds but gets crows to fly away and feed elsewhere.