For wild bird enthusiasts, seeing starling and grackle flocks swoop in and drain your bird feeders can be disheartening and expensive. Here are a few tips to minimize their presence at your feeders while allowing the smaller songbirds access to necessary food in the winter.
1. Choose the Right Feeders
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Caged Feeders:
- Use feeders with a metal cage around them to allow access for small birds but block larger birds like grackles and starlings.
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Weight-Activated Feeders:
- These feeders close the feeding ports when heavier birds land, effectively
deterring blackbirds.
- These feeders close the feeding ports when heavier birds land, effectively
2. Offer Selective Food
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Avoid Attracting Foods:
- Skip foods like cracked corn, millet, or bread scraps, which attract grackles and starlings.
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Offer Preferred Foods for Songbirds:
- Use safflower seeds, Nyjer (thistle) seeds, or whole peanuts. These are less appealing to larger birds.
- Mix hot pepper powder into birdseed—birds can't taste it, but it deters mammals and a few larger birds allowing small birds a chance to get seed.
3. Modify the Feeding Area
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Smaller Perches:
- Use feeders with small or no perches to make it harder for larger birds to land.
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Feeder Placement:
- Hang feeders under a dome or in areas with restricted overhead access to deter aggressive birds.
4. Limit Food Availability
![Grackle perched on a feeder](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2492/6212/files/Grackle_160x160.png?v=1737669589)
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Adjust Feeding Times:
- Feed birds in the early morning or late afternoon when smaller birds are more active.
- Feed birds in the early morning or late afternoon when smaller birds are more active.
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Reduce Feeder Numbers Temporarily:
- Limit the number of feeders until grackles and starlings lose interest.
5. Create a Decoy Feeding Area
- Offer cracked corn or suet in a separate area away from your primary feeders to divert the larger birds.
6. Use Deterrents
- Place shiny, reflective items like CDs or wind chimes nearby to discourage grackles and starlings from lingering.
By combining these strategies, you can enjoy the presence of your favorite songbirds while minimizing visits from larger, more aggressive birds.
![Starlings at a bird feeder](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2492/6212/files/Starlings_1024x1024.png?v=1737669589)