Keeping starlings and grackles off your feeders
Large, aggressive flock feeders. The goal is exclusion, not attraction. Switch to safflower or nyjer, remove millet and cracked corn, and use caged or weight-activated feeders set to close under a grackle's weight.
Which feeders stop starlings and grackles?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caged tube feeder | Sunflower, hearts | Good | A wire cage keeps squirrels and large birds (grackles, starlings, pigeons) out. |
| Weight-activated squirrel-proof feeder | Sunflower, safflower, hearts | Excellent | A spring-loaded shroud drops over the ports under a squirrel's weight. The most reliable squirrel-proof design at a hanging feeder. |
| Nyjer (finch) tube | Nyjer, fine chips | Squirrels ignore nyjer | Tiny slit ports release one seed at a time. |
Feeders that exclude large birds
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
What food should you switch to?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Safflower | Bitter to many squirrels, grackles, starlings and house sparrows. Birds may need a week or two to switch to it; mix it with sunflower at first. | Keeps well |
| Nyjer (thistle) | Not related to thistle despite the name. Imported nyjer is heat-treated so it does not sprout. Needs a feeder with tiny ports or mesh or it pours out. | Goes stale in weeks; buy small bags |
Food to buy for starlings and grackles
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
How do you make a yard less attractive to them?
- Height and spot: Any.
- When: Worst in spring and after breeding when flocks form.
- Range: Nationwide.
- Feeding style: Comfortable feeding on the ground or a low tray, so clear spilled seed and keep cats away.
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · Wrens · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Towhees · Grosbeaks · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the starlings and grackles feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for starlings and grackles on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What seed do starlings and grackles not eat?
Safflower and nyjer are the two foods starlings and grackles largely ignore. Safflower has a hard shell and a bitter taste that many grackles and starlings pass over, while cardinals, titmice and chickadees eat it readily. Nyjer is too small to interest large blackbirds. Switching every feeder to these for a few weeks usually breaks the habit of a visiting flock.
What feeder keeps starlings and grackles out?
Caged tube feeders with openings around 1 1/2 inches, and weight-activated feeders set to close under a heavy bird, are the two designs that exclude large blackbirds and starlings while letting small songbirds feed. Upside-down nyjer feeders and short-perch tubes also frustrate them. Open platform trays are the worst choice while a flock is visiting.
Why are starlings and grackles taking over my feeders?
They travel in flocks, especially after the nesting season, and they find cheap, easy food quickly: millet, cracked corn, bread and open trays. Once a flock learns a yard is reliable it returns daily. Removing the foods and feeder types they like, and cleaning up spilled seed under feeders, is what makes them move on.
Should I stop feeding birds to get rid of them?
Taking feeders down for one to two weeks is a legitimate last resort that breaks a flock's routine, and the songbirds you want will return quickly when feeding resumes. Before that, try switching to safflower in caged or weight-activated feeders, which keeps most of your regular visitors fed while the flock loses interest.
Are starlings and house sparrows protected?
European starlings and house sparrows are non-native and are not protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which is why nest box guidance allows removing their nests. Grackles, blackbirds and cowbirds are native and protected, so management is limited to making feeders less attractive to them rather than harming birds or nests.