Discouraging Grackle, Starlings and House Sparrows at Your Feeders

Discouraging less desirable birds at your feeders. While there are many who feel that any and all birds are wonderful, grackle, starlings and house sparrows can be trouble at feeder stations. You can discourage certain species of birds by the choice of seed you present and the type of feeders you use.
Safflower Seed: tinyurl.com/y29jf5a3
Caged Feeders: tinyurl.com/2p95dnks
Mark McKellar is a wildlife biologist with over 35 years of bird study experience. He has a degree in Fish and Wildlife Sciences from North Carolina State University and has worked for the Department of the Army, the Wildlife Departments of North Carolina and Missouri. He ran nature centers for many years in Missouri and Pennsylvania before buying the Backyard Bird Center in the Northland area of Kansas City. Mark has led hundreds of bird hikes both locally and abroad. He has taught classes about birds and other wildlife to groups of all ages and brings that knowledge to the customers of his retail business every day. More information about Mark at backyardbirdcenter.com/about-...
#marksbackyardbirds, #safflower, #birdfeeding
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MORE INFORMATION
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House Sparrow and European Starling photos by Mary Nemecek
House Finch, Cooper's Hawk and Common Grackle photos by Carrie Wadlow
Chapter
00:00 Introduction
03:40 Blue Jay
04:52 Red-winged Blackbird
06:36 House Sparrow
08:21 Common Grackle European Starling
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[@animelodies-_-]

Enjoy your videos. Grackles have invaded! Thanks.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

They are challenging

[@Burchrg24]

Love blue Jay's. Give them a few peanuts every morning in exchange for a close encounter

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I agree

[@honeywell891]

But here in Central Ontario we have red breasted robins. The blue jays, which I like, always attack the robin’s nest. I’d rather have the robins that the jays. Hard to please all of them though.

[@honeywell891]

@@MarksBackyardBirds o I do need to try out the caged bird feeder for my mix seed. Grackles and blackbirds are costing me a fortune. Must also by safflower seed to discourage these bird birds.

[@jess6512]

I don’t mind grackles. But starlings frustrate me!

[@kevinknabe7252]

The starlings eat everything and leave nothing for the other birds. It's pretty upsetting.

[@prozdrowotny]

hi from Poland, thank you for taking care of wonderful sparrows and beautiful starlings, we miss them a LOT

[@gloriamadaffari5404]

With the insane price of birdseed and other birding supplies who can afford what I call the garbage birds? I have a glut of house sparrows, some house finches and a frustrating intrusion of starlings. For added “joy” I have a gang of grey squirrels. Some grackles come, but nor often. So, the only reason I have to feed birds is cardinals. They are lovely and sweet and they are the state bird of Ohio! I also have attracted lots of chickadees. If I adjust my feeders to feed only lighter birds, I shut out my beloved cardinals. Plus, the house sparrows still can gorge. I have thwarted the squirrels which was indeed quite a victory, but the starlings came right after that. All I feed now is black oil sunflower seed, I had to remove my expensive peanut feeder too because of starlings. I just purchased an upside down suet feeder because I have flickers and woodpeckers that the starlings glutted out of the suet I put out. So as you can see, between the financial squeeze put on us by our government agenda, and the continuous battle at the bird feeders, along with my being on a fixed income, I am mighty discouraged and at the end of my bird feeding tolerance. So far nothing has worked no matter how pricey the solution was hyped to be.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I’m surprised that straight safflower seed hasn’t helped.

[@gloriamadaffari5404]

I tried straight safflower seeds in the past. They sat mostly untouched in my feeder by cardinals and other birds. At the time many people in the ares were feeding birds so my safflower offering was left alone. It is truly discouraging. I am rather reclusive and my greatest pleasure has been watching my birds flourish. It seems that even that is going to be denied.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@gloriamadaffari5404 This is frustrating. I know many who successfully transitioned their birds over to safflower but they had to go "cold turkey" on them. It is amazing how many birds eat safflower once that is pretty much all you offer. Goldfinches still require Nyjer® as they have a hard time opening a safflower hull.

[@bucsam1660]

I'm about at that point where I'm gonna just stop putting feed out, but those sparrows are like roaches, I'll miss my cardinals. I was putting squirrel feed out which did attract Cardinals and white winged doves.

[@MarianEllisTrynnity]

That's literally all I get in my feeders. Starlings..house finches and grackles. 😆 🤦🏽‍♀️ some red birds too.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Ugh. Have you tried safflower?

[@mikelobello6737]

Why I dislike Grackles, I live in SE Az. at 4400 elevation and have many beautiful birds at the feeders. Except when there are 2 or more grackles around the feeders all the other birds leave. Three grackles will turn into ten within a week. This is when I start throwing handfuls of pea gravel at them and keep doing it following them tree to tree. I have seen 3 grackles chase orioles until they drive them into the ground which kills them. The worse thing I witnessed was around noon on a100* day, there was 6 or 7 grackles in a apple tree and across 6 or 7 more in another tree, in the space between where the sun is shining is a box turtle trying to get out of the sun but when he sticks his legs grackles fly at him. What they were doing was cooking the turtle not letting him get to shade. His shell was hot I wet my t-shirt, then he wanted to get going. I spent afternoon chasing grackles throwing pea gravel whenever they landed. Nasty birds, they are too smart.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

They are bullies. I have never heard of that behavior before but it just shows how smart they all. Safflower is the one seed I have found that they truly do not like at a feeder station. I know the box turtle had to glad you were there.

[@stampdealer]

This is a very helpful video, Mark, thanks very much! I'm going to up my bird feeding - and watching - game in 2023, and I got some good guidance here.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@atis9061]

good tips. thank you so much.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching

[@taraann7753]

Thank you for your help, my birds are mostly ground feeders. My favourites are the Robins Sparrows,Blackbirds..I would hate to loose them because of the Starlings, I’m baffled at them still coming to feed in July..that hasn’t happened any other year..Thank you again for your advice.

[@AllHailNannerpuss]

I'm glad I found this video! These Starlings have been so annoying! I'll probably stop using a store blend that contains millet in favor of more Safflower.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Excellent

[@knoxtheox897]

Could you do a video on, stopping house sparrows and starlings from taking over nest boxes?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

That is a challenging topic but will address it soon. Thanks for the suggestion

[@15halerobert]

Here in Southern VA, i for the most part love all the birds, with the exception of starlings and bownheaded cowbirds, the Starlings because they eat me out house and home. I can't afford all the seed they eat and the cowbird for their breeding habits. The birds in my area got hit bad by the bird flue. they don't need the additional breeding habits of the cowbirds, their numbers are low enough as it is. Cowbirds don't help not one bit

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

They do pose a major problem for forest nesting birds. Have you seen my video on them? kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYDFaqiLrNSEqqc

[@irairod5160]

This was fantastic, thank you!

[@Daniela-tb1oe]

Thanks. mark, for these suggestions. I think if it might help people who feel steps taken against house sparrows and starlings are inhumane understand that these species are major invasive species that are outcompeting our native song birds. Your comparison to weeds is an excellent analogy as weeds are often invasive and also are partly responsible for native species extinctions. By allowing house sparrows to use birdhouses, we are supporting them. We humans brought those house sparrows to USA where they are out of control and anything we can do to reduce their populations will help our native bird species. Many songbird species are currently at great risk of extinction.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thanks. So glad you “get it”. I do take heat from time to time for communicating those ver thoughts.

[@Imakesawdust]

I learn so much from these videos! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thanks for the comment! Glad I am helping folks learn about the birds we all love so much.

[@suzsanborn9185]

thank you! this info is very helpful!😊

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Awesome. Thanks for letting me know.

[@joebob7344]

Excellent video, thanks

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I am so glad you enjoyed it!

[@dwuagneux]

Love blue jays, all grosbeaks, cardinals, chickadees, goldfinches, nuthatches… just have to find a way to stop the aggressive mobs of house, sparrows that are chasing away all other birds, and eating so much seed so fast that we are reaching a breaking point of not being able to buy seed for our feeders. We have a hanging column feeder, a flatbed feeder, and a suet feeder. We also love all of the different woodpeckers that visit us. If we cannot get the sparrow situation under control, we will have to stop buying seed within a couple of weeks. 😢

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Not sure if hat seed you feeding but if you stay away from any mix that contains grains like millet, milo, cracked corn. Maybe feeding straight sunflower seeds. Black oil sunflower is the most widely accepted seed by the birds you want to attract. The larger stripe sunflower is pretty effective against house sparrows.

[@throttle_therapy0025]

Very helpful. Thanks!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I’m glad to help. Thanks for watching.

[@richwilson9517]

Thanks alot. great.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thank you for tuning in and the gift!

[@almostafarm01]

I have my first Bluebirds in Maine since trapping all the English sparrows last year. The weather has been atrocious here and at first I worried that the Bluebirds weren’t eating the dried mealworms I put out so I bought some live ones, however it turned cold and they die in pretty short order coming from the refrigerator to cold snow/icy rain outside temps, so I’m waiting for moderating temps. Since then the bluebirds discovered the dome feeder and are eating the bluebird nuggets and mealworms in the dome…..THEN starlings took over in a flock…. So I’ve shortened the adjustment on the dome and it is discouraging some but not all starlings; It also seemed to discourage the bluebirds or is that the herd of starlings that make it appear so? There are some starlings that get in there eat the worms and nuggets and scatter others on the ground for the rest. I went out tonight to empty feeder and shortened it yet again, hoping it doesn’t deter the bluebirds completely, I can hardly get my hand in to put feed in. Once I get the right height that the bluebirds can manage and starlings can’t I will mark it. I had 4 bluebirds last week, one an obvious pair but I think the pair moved on, I think I have 2 males left. Will bluebirds eat a suet upside down? I also bought a bluebird feeder that they are ignoring it has the plexiglass sides and 4 entry holes, I had it open but starlings discovered it so I closed it, bluebirds have yet to try it. My plan is once the ground thaws again, to move that feeder beside the dome. Any other suggestions I am really trying here…do bluebirds eat safflower seeds?

[@julierobertson148]

Great video! I think using preferences and aversions is the way for me to go. Doing research is time consuming, but if you get the results you want, it's well worth it.. I can see my house sparrow problem is directly related to the seed I'm feeding. That is going to change.

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

I had a ton of grackles this year then went to only safflower seed in the feeders that they could eat at. Two days later a few grackles check things out but the larger flocks aren’t showing up.

[@RhondaWillms]

House sparrows seem to be adapting and are hanging on my screen feeder, hovering under my upside down suet feeder and finding ways to get seed and throw it out of my finch feeders. I'm not sure what to do to dissuade them from going to those feeders. If they don't like the seed they fling it and empty the feeders fast.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

They are survivors and do adapt to different situations and seeds. It really does take trial and error to figure out what works against them. I use the can't beat them by providing white millet on the ground for them. It helps to keep them out of my feeders.

[@yes350yes]

Yes, nice vid, the two most unwanted here are starlings and house sparrows. Also house finches have taken over the nijer seed feeders when previously had all gold finches , but now goldfinches dont come around because of this. I also like to feed suet in a double suet feeder inside a cage supposedly starling deterent ,, wrong. I have recently rigged this up by leaving suet in the plastice pack and putting hardware cloth over the face of the suet. This has stopped the house sparrows and Im hoping it will help later when the starlings arrive. They cant go in the cage but they can reach in far enough to get some suet or even knock out chunks that they can eat off the ground.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thanks for tuning in. House Finches can be lured away from Nyjer feeders by offering then safflower. This has that additional benefit of being hated by squirrels, grackle and other pests. The caged suet feeders do have to be big enough to foil the starlings as most of them are just built to keep squirrels and raccoons out. A couple of my videos that you may want to watch are: House Finches kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZnFd2p_lKiIkKM and Caged Feeders: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmasYqh8qZ6fqKM

[@barbarakennedy4061]

How about discouraging mourning doves??

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

This video may help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmasYqh8qZ6fqKMsi=hGj6M9sWlrgYuldA

[@RichardFerstandig]

Do you recommend bird feeders that keep out squirrels?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I do. I use and love the Squirrel Buster Classic. Drives them crazy.

[@Kaileighblue]

I have a tiny window feeder that quickly attracted Starlings and a Mockingbird who throw seed all over the place trying to find something they like. I changed to Safflower and the Starlings left fast but one male Mockingbird will not stop shoveling seed out of the feeder so the smaller birds eat off the ground instead. I'm hoping he's just more stubborn than the Starlings and will leave eventually but I have tomatoes that are turning red and I don't know if my nets will stop this little menace. He even took the whole peanuts I had put out for Crows and threw them in the grass one by one.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

He move on eventually. He does really eat seed. He is a fruit and insect eater. Fingers crossed

[@jillhansinger4095]

I’m confused…I live in South East Michigan…we call the grackles you are showing as starlings and the starlings you are showing are grackles …in the fall during migration I get hundreds of what we call starlings, black birds grackles and crows….I realize they are attracted to water as lakes and rivers I am about 5 miles from a large lake….come October I have the scenery for Hitchcock’s movie…how can I control this?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

They call those large starling flocks “murmurations” they move like clouds. You are not alone. These two names get crossed up a lot. Starlings have short stubby tails and grackle have long tails

[@CamiOetman]

This summer I’ve just begun my birdfeeder and enjoying it so much! This video was extremely helpful and I will be re-watching and taking notes. Thank you so much for this information! 🪺

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

So glad to help. Welcome to the channel.

[@laurabailey-cm4mj]

How to keep starlings out of suet

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I have a video called “How Do I Keep Starlings Off My Suet Feeders” kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXWQYmZmgZ2pbM0

[@jn2898]

House finches HOARD the seed at my bird feeder and they stay there all day. I hate it. The little chickadee just wants to take one seed and fly off but the finches never leave. They monopolize my feeder

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Have you tried and upside down finch feeder? If you put the fine sunflower chips in it, the chickadees should use it as well as the goldfinches. House Finches have trouble hanging upside down to feed.

[@robertrussell143]

ideals on stopping sterlings and suet cake feeder destroying

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

HI Robert, I hope this video helps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXWQYmZmgZ2pbM0

[@nelsongsousa37]

I got a problem with grackens. Blue head and neck black body. Blue tails

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Safflower and caged feeders are the most effective against them

[@nelsongsousa37]

@@MarksBackyardBirds I got two suet feeder cages within 15 or 20 feet from each other.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

How about caged seed feeders? They keep starlings and grackle out.

[@nelsongsousa37]

@@MarksBackyardBirds so far so good. Finches are finally back. Will a thistle sock and some suet bring back those damned grackens?

[@nelsongsousa37]

@@MarksBackyardBirds it’s a good plan but I like seeing blue jays and they have no problem picking a fight with a gracken

[@davidtrendl9582]

How to control morning doves (vacuum cleaners) at my feeders

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Caged feeders are your best bet: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmasYqh8qZ6fqKM

[@Miguel195211]

Lets face it most of us like colorful birds, and not so much drab looking ones like house sparrows.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

There are plenty of wonderful birds that are drab in coloration, it has more to do with the destructive nature of certain birds. and their impact of other birds that make them less desirable

[@GigiEmbrechts]

We had a aggressive crackle. We caught him in a small animal cage with peanuts and shook the trap and then released him. Never saw him again

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Wow

[@packtray6569]

What's considered "waste seed"? I'm assuming millet is one of those.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Millet can be a good seed used in the right presentation, on the ground. But it is a grain and will attract these birds. The true waste seeds are milo, cracked corn, wheat, oats, etc. if your goal is to discourage these birds it is best to avoid all of them including millet.

[@cbak1819]

My beautiful neighbor has bird feeder and last year the sparows started forming flight formations with 20 to 30 birds. They drive off all the birds she wanted to attract. I brought in a birdbath and that made it a haven for them😏 Any thing to stop this? We need some hawks.. she killed 24 chipmunks as well.. with a trap.. we have tons around here.. No hawks to keep the population down.. 😂Feeding birds just doesn't seem to be good in many ways.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Sparrows are attracted grains. I recommend eliminating any mixes with millet, milo, cracked corn, etc. By only offering seeds like sunflower and safflower, they will hopefully seek out the grains elsewhere.

[@cbak1819]

@@MarksBackyardBirds thank you.. I will mention this to her.

[@MissouriBirds]

Regarding tube feeders being the best solution to keep the house sparrow and house finches away-for those of you using this type of feeder PLEASE clean them well (with 10% bleach and warm water) at least once per week. You’ll find that cleaning a tube feeder is much more difficult, but it MUST be done-Otherwise you will end up with many sick birds every year due to what is known as “house finch conjunctivitis”. And unless you’re seeing your birds super up close, you will be unaware that this is happening every year and affecting many of the different bird breeds (NOT just house finches). This disease can kill a bird in as quickly as 24 hours and you’d have no idea it happened. (I have multiple cameras set up around my backyard and zoom in on the birds and this is how I found out that not only are multiple house finches carrying rhis, but also cardinals and even their young baby who is now wheezing at the feeding station. It is devastating. I had to take all of my feeders down for the time being because I didn’t want to inadvertently continue spreading this highly contagious disease. With that said-I never plan on using a tube feeder again because of how easy the mycoplasma bacteria spreads when different birds are inserting their eyes and face into the opening. Mycoplasma is resistant to most household cleaners by the way, including dish washing liquid-which is why bleach needs to be used. Good luck 😬

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Conjunctivitis generally breaks out when House Finch populations are high in an area. Cleaning your feeders is an excellent idea and you are correct, while some recommend a 50/50 vinegar and water solution, it is not effective at killing the harmful bacteria. We can go several years without seeing infected birds, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[@GuitarJams-zs7yf]

I feed all the birds. I would hate to be a bird that everyone hates.

[@raylaux8295]

Bait and switch. Click bait. House Finches , Red wing black birds Jays, etc. are not considered pests.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Depends on who you ask and where you live.

[@echodelta9]

I'm ready and waiting for AI camera equipped feeders with electric perches for the invasives, hang over the compost heap. Plop, another one joins bites the dust.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I had a customer who rigged up an old crank telephone and copper wire along his deck railing and use to give the squirrels a quick jolt to train them to stay off.

[@reyinfante5553]

I'm not sure if you mean house finches instead of house sparrows in the beginning of your presentation. I don't mind house finches (smaller and with red head) as they are not very voracious eaters but soon the house sparrows discovered the bird feed and they come in droves and comes back all the time - displacing the finches, they would also forage in the ground unlike finches and they look drab and considered as a pest. . To avoid being attacked by woke environmentalists, you should honest comments as a third person, not referring the comments coming from yourself.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

House Finches are a problem for many folks, not all. Over my 40 year career, I have heard and answered countless complaints about House Finches. They are a native species and I think they are great but I strive to help people enjoy birds by dealing with what they consider to be pest in the safest way I know how.

[@alisonhendry2928]

How do I deter the doves!!! Bullies and greedy!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Doves love safflower and grains. I would avoid feeding anything with millet, cracked corn, milo, etc. Choose tube feeders with smaller perches and do not add trays and consider a cage feeder. Here is a link to my video about using cage feeders: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmasYqh8qZ6fqKM

[@alisonhendry2928]

Thank you! I usually only feed black oil sunflower and shelled peanuts. Seed rolls are bug, nut and berry from my local wWild Birds unlimited and they stay off of those IF. Keep the other feeders steady with sunflower seeds. I will watch your video as I think the cage is the only route left for me… bluejays can eat the peanuts..I live in Houston so. Whole different bunch of backyard buddies.

[@cathyoliver5702]

Tube feeders for the win. I switched to two of them. One has only safflower seed and non rim on the bottom so there is nothing for the big birds to perch on. The other one I use the mixed seed . My cardinals found the safflower the first day I put it up so they visit daily and that's who I was wanting at my feeders. Although safflower is exspensive I still don't go through the seed I was going through because I would get hundreds of crackles and dives daily wiping it out.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@cathyoliver5702 Excellent!!

[@coffeecloutier]

Mark, the video was great. We have been doing most of what you suggest for a few years now. Safflower has been part of our buffet for at least a decade. However, recently the mourning doves have discovered it and LOVE it. So we can no longer offer on an open platform. The cardinals do go into a caged feeder with a bottom tray, so they do get their safflower. But are there any other options that you know of? The other issue that has arisen this year is that the red-winged blackbirds have discovered our peanut tube feeder , so we’ve had to take it down. This has reduced the number of woodpeckers. Any thoughts? Finally, the changes we’ve made to discourage blackbirds of all sorts means our orioles and grosbeaks don’t have choices any more. Any thoughts? And now to offer a tip in return. We started putting dried mealworms in a birdbath (no water) and no have robins galore, and they bring their babies. They are hardly skittish at all, so will come close. It is a real treat. We live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.