You hang a beautiful suet feeder, excited to welcome woodpeckers and chickadees to your yard. Instead, you get a noisy flock of starlings that won’t leave. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and the good news is, there are simple fixes that really work.
Understanding Why Starlings Love Your Suet Feeder
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Check PriceStarlings are opportunistic feeders with a knack for dominating bird feeders, especially when suet is involved. Their secret weapon? A softer, more flexible beak that’s perfectly suited for grabbing soft, rich foods like suet and hulled seeds. Unlike woodpeckers, which have chisel-like beaks designed for excavating insects from tree bark, starlings can easily grab and gobble soft suet without much effort.
This gives them a competitive edge at the feeder. They arrive in noisy groups, often pushing out smaller, more desirable birds like chickadees, nuthatches, and downy woodpeckers. Once they discover your suet feeder, they’ll return daily—sometimes in massive numbers—making it difficult for native birds to get a turn.
Starlings are also aggressive and persistent. They’re not shy about crowding around a feeder, and their sheer numbers can overwhelm quieter backyard species. Because they’re non-native and highly adaptable, they thrive in suburban environments where food is plentiful and competition is low. That’s why your suet feeder becomes their all-you-can-eat buffet.
Understanding this behavior is the first step toward reclaiming your feeder. Starlings aren’t acting out of malice—they’re just doing what comes naturally. But by adjusting what you offer and how you offer it, you can make your feeder far less appealing to them and much more inviting to the birds you actually want to see.
Choose the Right Suet and Feeder Design to Deter Starlings
Not all suet is created equal, and switching up what you offer can make a big difference. Starlings prefer soft, easy-to-eat suet cakes, especially those mixed with seeds, nuts, or fruit. If you want to discourage them, opt for pure suet or suet blends that are firmer and harder to grip. Some manufacturers make “no-melt” or “woodpecker-only” suet that’s denser and less appealing to starlings.
You can also try safflower-based suet mixes. Safflower seeds have a slightly bitter taste that most starlings dislike, but woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches don’t mind at all. It’s a simple swap that can shift the balance in your favor without sacrificing nutrition for the birds you want to attract.
Feeder design is just as important as the suet itself. Upside-down suet feeders are one of the most effective tools for deterring starlings. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees are all comfortable feeding while hanging upside down—it’s how they naturally forage on tree trunks. Starlings, on the other hand, struggle with this position and usually give up after a few tries.
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Another excellent option is a caged suet feeder. These feeders have a wire cage surrounding the suet that allows smaller birds to slip through while blocking larger, bulkier starlings. The cage openings are typically around 1.5 inches, which is perfect for woodpeckers and other clinging birds but too tight for starlings to navigate comfortably.
If you’re handy, you can even DIY a cage around an existing suet feeder using hardware cloth or chicken wire. Just make sure the openings are small enough to exclude starlings but large enough for your target species. It’s a low-cost, high-impact solution that works year-round.
Simple Feeder Adjustments and Guards for Better Results
Sometimes small tweaks to your existing setup can yield big results. One of the easiest adjustments is adding a weight-sensitive feeder mechanism. These feeders are designed to close access ports when a heavier bird lands on the perch. Starlings are bulkier than chickadees, finches, or nuthatches, so the feeder shuts them out while allowing lighter birds to feed freely.
You can find weight-sensitive feeders for both seed and suet, and many are adjustable so you can fine-tune the sensitivity based on the birds in your area. This type of feeder is especially helpful if you’re dealing with multiple nuisance species, like grackles or blackbirds, in addition to starlings.
If you’re using a tube feeder for seeds, consider adding a caged guard around it. These metal cages work the same way as caged suet feeders—they create a barrier that only smaller birds can pass through. Cardinals, finches, and chickadeas can still access the food, but starlings are left on the outside looking in.
Another underrated adjustment is feeder placement. Starlings prefer open areas where they can see predators approaching and have a clear flight path. By placing your suet feeder closer to shrubs or tree cover, you create an environment that feels safer to smaller, shyer birds and less inviting to bold, flocking starlings. Just make sure the feeder is still visible enough for you to enjoy watching your guests.
Finally, consider limiting the amount of suet you put out at one time. If you fill your feeder to capacity, a flock of starlings can camp out all day. Offering smaller portions encourages quicker turnover and gives other birds a better chance to visit without competition.
Extra Backyard Strategies to Welcome Your Favorite Birds
While feeder adjustments are crucial, creating a starling-resistant yard goes beyond just hardware. One of the best long-term strategies is planting native trees, shrubs, and flowers that provide natural food sources and shelter. Native plants attract insects, which in turn draw insect-eating birds like warblers, wrens, and woodpeckers—species that starlings don’t typically compete with.
Adding a clean water source is another great way to diversify the birds visiting your yard. A simple birdbath or shallow dish can attract species that might not be interested in your feeders, like robins, thrashers, and even hummingbirds during migration. Keep the water fresh and consider adding a dripper or fountain feature—moving water is irresistible to many birds.
When it comes to seed selection, think strategically. Starlings love cracked corn, millet, and soft bread-like foods. Instead, offer sunflower chips, nyjer seed, or safflower. These seeds appeal to finches, chickadees, and cardinals but tend to be ignored by starlings. It’s a simple menu change that can shift your backyard’s bird demographics almost overnight.
If you’re still seeing starlings despite these efforts, try taking your feeders down for a week or two. Starlings are creatures of habit, and if the food source disappears, they’ll move on to another location. Once they’ve relocated, you can put your feeders back up with your new starling-proof setup in place.
Remember, the goal isn’t to eliminate all wildlife—just to create a space where native, beneficial birds feel welcome and supported. With the right combination of feeders, food, and habitat, you’ll be amazed at the variety of species that start showing up. Happy birding!