Birds can be quite territorial when it comes to bird feeders. The degree to which different bird species exhibit territorial behavior depends on various factors, including the type of food offered at the feeder, the number of feeders available, and the types of birds in the area.
Do birds guard bird feeders?
Many backyard birders notice certain birds chasing away other birds that attempt to feed at their bird feeders. This is a common territorial behavior, especially among species that are naturally aggressive or protective of food sources.
Birds like blue jays, mockingbirds, robins, and sparrows are known to aggressively guard bird feeders and chase away other birds. They may situate themselves close to the feeder and swoop in to scare off any bird that approaches. These territorial birds may also emit warning calls or actively attack and peck at intruders.
Other species like chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches may exhibit milder territorial behavior. They may vocalize or posture aggressively to warn away other birds but rarely attack. Some birds like mourning doves and woodpeckers generally do not display any territorial tendencies at feeders.
What types of food trigger territorial behavior?
Offering certain foods at your bird feeder is more likely to trigger territorial behavior than others:
- Sunflower seeds – Small black oil sunflower seeds are a favorite of many territorial songbirds like blue jays, cardinals, sparrows, and finches. The high fat and protein content make them worth guarding.
- Safflower seeds – Safflower is another oil-rich seed that attracts territorial birds. Sparrows and cardinals will aggressively defend a safflower feeder.
- Suet – Suet provides a concentrated source of fat and protein. Birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees will guard a suet feeder.
- Fruit – Sliced fruit, raisins, and grape jelly draw in fruit-eating birds like robins and blue jays that may aggressively defend the feeder.
- Nyjer seed – The small, oil-rich nyjer seeds preferred by finches are frequently guarded by territorial goldfinches and pine siskins.
Feeders stocked with grains like millet and milo or inexpensive mixed seed tend to sees less territorial behavior. The lower nutritional value makes them less worth fighting over.
Does the number of feeders affect territorial behavior?
Providing multiple bird feeders can help minimize territorial behavior and fights. When fewer feeders are available, birds are more likely to aggressively guard the limited food source. Offering multiple feeders spreads birds out over a wider area.
Spacing feeders far apart – at least 10-15 feet – also gives territorial birds less incentive to guard more than one feeder. Concentrating all the feeders in one spot can spark territorial disputes.
It helps to offer different types of foods at each feeder. For example, sunflower seeds in one feeder, suet in another, and fruit in a third. This prevents one feeder from being an ultra-desirable food source that birds feel compelled to defend.
What species are most territorial at feeders?
The bird species most likely to exhibit territorial behavior at backyard feeders include:
- Northern cardinals – Cardinals are very protective of feeders stocked with sunflower seeds and will readily chase off other birds.
- Blue jays – Their natural aggressiveness leads blue jays to guard valued foods like peanuts and sunflower seeds.
- European starlings – Starlings are aggressive birds that will claim feeders stocked with their preferred foods like suet and sunflower seeds.
- House sparrows – Sparrows will form flocks to take over a feeder and exclude other species from perching or feeding.
- Red-bellied woodpeckers – They defend suet feeders and sometimes small bird feeders stocked with sunflower seeds.
- Eastern bluebirds – While eating fruit and mealworms, bluebirds will guard the feeder from other bluebirds and competing species.
Other birds like American goldfinches, tufted titmice, white-breasted nuthatches, and downy woodpeckers may defend resources but less aggressively than the above birds.
Will different bird species share feeders peacefully?
While some birds are quite territorial, other species can and do share bird feeders without excessive squabbling. With ample feeder space and food, the following birds generally tolerate each other at the same feeder:
- Mourning doves
- Crows
- Chickadees
- Titmouse
- Bushtits
- Brown creepers
- Nuthatches
Smaller birds often stick to feeder ports on lower or higher levels than the larger species. This helps prevent bullying. Providing ample feeder space for the number of birds in your yard encourages sharing.
Tips for minimizing territorial behavior
You can manage territorial behavior and promote peaceful feeder sharing with these tips:
- Provide multiple feeder stations spaced widely apart.
- Offer different foods at each feeder to spread birds out.
- Use feeders with ports on different levels or facing in opposite directions.
- Choose feeders with adequate perching and feeding space.
- Site feeders near trees or shrubs to break up sight lines.
- Clean feeders regularly to prevent food shortages.
- Use squirrel baffles to prevent territorial birds from having to fend off squirrels.
- Discourage the most aggressive species by avoiding their preferred foods.
Are hummingbirds territorial at feeders?
Hummingbirds exhibit some of the most aggressive territorial behavior for their tiny size. A single hummingbird will claim a nectar feeder as its own territory and chase away any other hummingbirds that attempt to drink there.
Males are generally more territorial than females. They will vocalize, posture, and even physically attack other hummers intruding on their feeder. Battles between two males over a prime feeder location are not uncommon.
Factors that increase hummingbird territoriality around feeders include:
- Feeders placed close together
- Feeders near prime nesting spots in trees/shrubs
- Feeders near dense natural nectar sources
- Feeders that are dirty or have stale nectar
- Feeders with a single feeding port
- Feeders that are brightly colored red
Multiple widely spaced feeders, keeping nectar fresh, and using neutral colored feeders can help minimize aggression and sharing.
Do bird feeders cause window collisions?
Unfortunately, birds sometimes accidentally collide with windows when flying near feeders. This occurs for several reasons:
- Birds fleeing from an aggressive territorial bird may hurtle into windows in their haste to escape
- Startled birds may crash into windows when spooked off a feeder
- Disoriented juveniles may strike windows after leaving a feeder
- Birds may fly directly at windows when swooping down to a feeder on the other side
Positioning feeders less than 3 feet or more than 30 feet from windows decreases collisions. Placing them near windows with visible decals or UV-reflective glass also helps alert birds.
Can overcrowding at bird feeders spread disease?
In rare cases, overcrowded bird feeders and lack of sanitation may facilitate disease transmission between birds. Diseases potentially spread at feeders include:
- Salmonellosis – Caused by Salmonella bacteria from contaminated food/water. Diarrhea, lethargy, and death may occur in severe cases.
- Avian pox – Caused by a virus. Causes wart-like leg lesions and feather loss.
- Aspergillosis – Fungal infection often occurring during winter months. Causes respiratory illness.
- Conjunctivitis – Bacterial pink eye infection leading to ocular discharge and swelling.
- Trichomoniasis – Parasitic disease contracted from contaminated feeders/birdbaths. Causes throat lesions.
Routine cleaning and sanitation of feeders and baths using a 10% bleach solution helps prevent disease transmission between birds sharing a small space.
Are nesting birds territorial of feeders?
Birds that are nesting in nearby trees or birdhouses will sometimes exhibit territorial behavior at feeders within their perceived territory. This is especially true of parent birds defending an active nest with eggs or young nestlings.
Bird species most likely to show this behavior include robins, blue jays, mockingbirds, barn swallows, bluebirds, and Eastern phoebes. Both males and females participate in chasing away perceived threats near the nest, though males are often more aggressive.
Territorial nesting behavior typically lasts only while young are in the nest up to a few weeks after fledging. Removing bird feeders entirely during nesting season is unnecessary. Simply repositioning them at least 30 feet from active nests reduces conflict.
Are birds territorial of birdbaths too?
Just as with food sources, some birds can exhibit territorial behavior around birdbaths and other water sources. Species prone to guarding feeders like robins and blue jays often treat birdbaths the same way.
Providing multiple small baths in different yard areas allows more birds to access water. Adding visual barriers like shrubs and brush piles also reduces territorial conflicts. Limiting baths to just a few large sources can make them prized targets for territorial species.
Conclusion
Territorial behavior is common among a variety of bird species defending food and water resources provided by backyard bird feeders and baths. Aggressive species like jays, mockingbirds, robins, and sparrows are most likely to guard feeders, especially ones stocked with high value foods.
Offering several feeder stations, multiple birdbaths, and using appropriate feeder styles and placements can minimize territorial disputes. While some squabbling may still occur, creating a bird-friendly yard promotes peaceful sharing in most cases.
Understanding your common backyard birds and meeting their needs goes a long way towards discouraging aggressive territorial behavior. Providing adequate feeding spaces and using feeders strategically makes your yard welcoming to all species.
References
Here are some references used as sources for this article:
- Scott, S. (2015). How to Create a Bird-friendly Yard. Storey Publishing.
- McElroy, K. (2021). Why Birds Fight Over Feeders and How to Stop It. The Spruce. Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/stopping-birds-from-fighting-over-feeders-386584
- Witmer, G. (2017). Bird Feeders and Disease. Pacific Northwest Extension. Retrieved from https://extension.wsu.edu/clark/2018/12/bird-feeders-and-disease/
- Dunn, J.L. and Alderfer, J. (2006). Field Guide to the Birds of North America. National Geographic Society.
- Gowaty, P.A. (1984). House Sparrows Kill Eastern Bluebirds. Journal of Field Ornithology 55(3): 378-380.
- Medler, M. (2002). Nectar Robbing in Hummingbird Flowers. Bird Watching Feb 2002.
Bird | Food Guarded | Territorial Behavior |
---|---|---|
Northern Cardinal | Sunflower, Safflower | Chases other birds away from feeder |
Blue Jay | Peanuts, Sunflower | Aggressive swooping and vocalizations |
House Finch | Nyjer Seed | Perches nearby to chase away intruders |
Red-bellied Woodpecker | Suet | Guards suet but allows small birds to use feeder |
European Starling | Suet, Sunflower | Forms large aggressive flocks at feeders |
Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Nectar | Dives and vocalizes to fend off intruders |
Tips to discourage territorial behavior
- Provide multiple feeder stations and birdbaths
- Separate feeders by at least 10-15 feet
- Offer different foods at each feeder
- Use feeders with multiple ports
- Place feeders near cover
- Clean feeders regularly to prevent food shortages