You may have noticed large flocks of small, dark birds with light speckles gathering in your yard or on power lines recently. These are likely European starlings, an invasive species that is very common across North America. Starlings are extremely social birds that form large flocks, especially in fall and winter. If you seem to suddenly have a lot of them around, there are some reasons why they may be attracted to your yard.
What do starlings look like?
Starlings are medium-sized songbirds, about 8-9 inches long. Their feathers are mostly black with small white or buff speckles. The speckles can wear off over time, making older starlings appear very dark. Their beaks are long, pointed, and yellow during breeding season but darker at other times of the year. Legs and feet are pinkish-red. Overall they have a short tail and triangular shaped wings.
Male and females look alike. Juveniles are brownish-gray and take a few months to acquire their adult plumage.
Starlings are chunky, almost square shaped when perched. They have a bit of a hunched posture and will bob their heads as they walk. Their flight is direct and swift, with stiff wingbeats.
Where do starlings nest?
Starlings are cavity nesters, meaning they nest inside holes or crevices. Nest sites include birdhouses, holes in trees, old woodpecker cavities, gaps in buildings, and openings in bridges or cliffs. They will readily use man-made nest boxes as well.
Starling pairs often nest in loose colonies, with nests spaced closely together. Nest height is variable – they may be high up in a tree cavity or down low in a roadway embankment.
The nest itself is made of grasses, leaves, twigs, and feathers. Female starlings lay 4-6 pale blue eggs and incubate them for 10-13 days. The altricial chicks hatch naked and helpless but are ready to leave the nest at 21-23 days old.
What do starlings eat?
Starlings are omnivorous, eating a wide variety of foods. Their diet includes insects and other invertebrates, grains, seeds, fruits and berries. They forage for food on the ground, often in large flocks. You may see them probing lawns or fields looking for grubs and worms.
During winter they rely more on fruits and grains, even visiting backyard feeders for suet and birdseed. Starlings may also be drawn to dog and cat food left outside, livestock grain, or food waste from garbage cans. Their diverse diet allows them to adapt readily to many habitats.
Why are starlings attracted to my yard?
If you notice an influx of starlings in your yard, there are some likely reasons:
Access to food
The availability of food sources will always attract starlings. If you have bird feeders stocked with seed blends or suet, starlings may come to partake. Dog or cat food left outside, compost piles with food scraps, and any fruits or grains in your garden can also draw them in. Make sure to clean up any spilled seeds from feeders as well.
You may want to remove or limit access to these food sources if starlings are becoming a nuisance. Using feeders designed for smaller songbirds can help, since starlings are too large to access the seed ports or perches.
Water source
Like all animals, starlings need access to water daily to survive. Having a birdbath, fountain, pond, or other open water source in your yard is an invitation. Starlings will visit to drink and bathe. If you notice them coming consistently to a water source, consider removing or blocking it to discourage the birds.
Trees for roosting
Starlings gather in large flocks of thousands or even millions during fall and winter. They form massive roosts at night to stay warm and exchange information, typically gathering in groves of dense trees within a few miles of good feeding grounds. The more mature trees in your yard, the better for roosting. Starlings prefer conifers like pines, spruces, and cedars, or broadleaf evergreens like hollies. If you have many mature conifers that provide shelter, starlings may congregate at night. Trimming branches to open the canopy can make the trees less suitable as roosts.
Nesting cavities
In spring, starlings seek out cavities for nesting and raising young. Mature trees, wooden fence posts, and openings in buildings or bridges provide ideal nest sites. Blocking holes and crevices wherever you can will help make your yard less welcoming to nesting starlings.
However, starlings may still nest in less convenient places like vents, exterior light fixtures, or holes in siding. Monitoring your house for any nest starts will allow you to remove nests before eggs are laid.
Competition for nest sites
One reason starlings are so common is they compete aggressively for nesting sites, even taking over nests from native cavity nesters like bluebirds and woodpeckers. Reducing starlings therefore helps these declining native species as well. Putting up nest boxes designed for bluebirds and other cavity nesters can give them safe sites that starlings can’t take over.
Tips for discouraging starlings
Here are some effective tactics for making your yard less attractive to nuisance flocks of starlings:
Remove food and water sources
As mentioned, limiting or eliminating access to bird feeders, pet food, water dishes, fruiting trees, and compost heaps will take away things that attract starlings. Use feeders with weight or size restrictions so starlings can’t access the seed.
Use scare tactics
Visual deterrents like fake predators (owl decoys), flashing lights, aluminum pie pans, and mylar tape may discourage starlings from frequenting your yard. Audible scare devices like clappers or ultrasonic repellents can work too but have limited effect over time as birds become accustomed.
Block roosting and nesting sites
Prune dense conifers, seal openings on buildings, and install mesh covers or cone baffles in rain gutters. This reduces roosting and nesting places. Providing nest boxes for native cavity nesters can also help give them an advantage over starlings.
Use repellents
Non-toxic taste or smell repellents applied to ledges, roofs, and other surfaces can deter starlings from roosting. Products like bird gel, sticky gels, or grapeseed extract are irritating but harmless. Reapplication is needed after rain or snow.
Population control
In rural areas, trapping and lethal control may be warranted to reduce significant agricultural damage from large flocks. Shooting and avicides like DRC-1339 may be used in some cases by wildlife professionals. However, population control is difficult given the starling’s ubiquitous and abundant status. For most homeowners, exclusion and harassment are the best approaches.
Conclusion
An influx of starlings can certainly be a nuisance, creating noise, mess, and competition for backyard birds. But there are effective techniques available to discourage their presence without harming them. The keys are reducing food, water, and shelter to make your yard less hospitable, while also increasing competition by providing nest sites for native cavity nesters. With some diligence, you can achieve a better balance and send those pesky starlings on their way.
Time of Year | Why Starlings are Attracted to Your Yard | Deterrents |
---|---|---|
Fall & Winter | Access to food sources like birdseed or pet food; Trees provide roosting shelter | Use specialty feeders that exclude starlings; Remove food spillage; Trim trees and prune branches |
Spring & Summer | Cavities for nesting in trees or buildings; Nearby water source | Block holes and crevices; Install nest boxes for native birds; Remove birdbaths/fountains |
Further reading
- Identifying starlings – https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/european-starling
- Starling roosting habits – https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/operational-activities/sa_bird_starlings
- Exclusion techniques – https://extension.msstate.edu/content/nuisance-birds-exclusion-techniques
- Dealing with problem starlings – https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/dealing-problem-starlings